I feel like something is wrong with my mind.?

Question

Until 9th grade I was fairly successful academically. However, since then, along with becoming depressed and socially anxious, I've begun to feel that I'm not actualizing my potential. My writing lacks the flow it used to have... I can't retain vocabulary if my life depends on it... I simply can't comprehend geometry at all... but at times, I still feel like in some way, I should be doing better than most people who are easily getting nearly straight A grades... yet, I struggle to get Ds, Cs, and Bs... and now that I've sullied my transcripts, I'm not sure that I'll ever be able to recover. It feels like there's a part of my brain that I'm not accessing. I'm not being elitist... it's really a feeling that I have. Does this make any sense?

maybe it's also worth mentioning that I'm taking antidepressants. i'm not sure if that could have some sort of adverse effect... but whatever.

the name of the medication is Effexor.

Answer 1

It does make sense. It could be a side effect of the medication as you've suggested. Some of the side effects of effexor (also called Venlafaxine) are memory loss, apathy, agitation & fatigue.

You could talk to your doctor about changing the type of medication you take, or maybe coming off it altogether. A lot, maybe all antidepressants have an effect on concentration & the ability to become absorbed & flow in intellectual tasks. Also, you may be able to get your doctor to give you a medical certificate stating that your medication may have had a large influence on your ability to perform in your school work. Your school will hopefully then to take this into account when grading you (ie: give you higher grades).

I experienced this myself once, though with a different drug (on prescription). I felt as though my abilities had decreased, that I had a fuzziness in my brain where clear, sharp, logical, inspired thinking used to be. I felt as though some part of my mind either wasn't accessible or had disappeared although I still looked to it expecting it to be there. I couldn't get the absorbed flow with my intellectual interests and my journal writing although I'd had these things in abundance before I started the medication. I was a student at the time but rather than trying and getting bad grades I almost stopped doing the work altogether.

I didn't realise it was the drug at first. I thought it was the medical condition I was taking the drug for (which was a psychological condition). I finally did get myself off the drug & found I didn't need it anymore. Very soon after that all those mental attributes that I felt I'd lost came back.

The first time after that when I realised I'd been totally immersed & flowing in an intellectual task for 2 hours, losing track of time with the total absorption was a wonderful feeling, like coming home to who I am.

Answer 2

Depression makes me feel like there's a wall in my brain where I can't access the things I want to access. That sounds a lot like what you described. Even simple things like getting dressed can be difficult for me sometimes. I want to do it but something in my brain holds me back. You didn't say how long you've been on antidepressants so it's hard to say if Effexor is the right drug for you. If you've been on it a long time, it sounds like you may need to talk to your doctor about a med change. I take Effexor and have had good luck with it so far.

Answer 3

Yes, it does make sense. You need to find an outlet for your anxiety and depression with exercise, lively conversation with people you admire (seriously), and find a creative outlet other than school. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, also.

I still go through what you are going through, occasionally. You basically are uninspired right now. If I don't get moving on something or find I've only be hanging with people who "small talk" I get so bored my brain shuts down. I have to be around creative energies, people, things, places and it "wakes" me up and makes me more productive.

Lastly, if your depression has gone on a while you might need to seek professional help. Not a damn thing wrong with it. I got help with meds when I was suffering from anxiety attacks and depression. It got me through it and I didn't have to stay on the meds forever. Sometimes it is nothing more than a chemical imbalance in your brain.



All my best wishes to you. Sounds like you do indeed have a great potential. You will find yourself again!!!

Answer 4

Yes I can see why you think there is something wrong with your mind.

Obviously you are able to pass your classes. And I can read what you said so you are able to write.

By what standard are you judging yourself that you think you should remember absolutely everything you learned in school.

Even the most clever engineer does not remember everything he learned if he does not use it often.

Two years after school you will have lost at least half of what you took at school unless you use it often.

Besides survival does not require a lot of information. Education just ensures that you can get into a job that you want.

What they haven't taught at school is much more important.
How you think about yourself and react to the world around you is what you should interest you.

Your are responsible for how you think. No one else can know what you are telling yourself.

Your are responsible for how you behave. No one can tell you what to do in response to what is happening to you.

Your are responsible for your moods and attitudes.

So yes it is sensible that you are feeling the way you are because you are telling yourself all of these sad things.

List all the good things that happen to you.
List all the good things about yourself.
Write them down.
Do it often.

This is the real lesson about life. You are totally responsible and in control of your mind.

http://themeaningisyou.com

Answer 5

It's a known fact that medication for anxiety and anti-depressants can interfere with concentration. You should tell your doctor about your concerns and perhaps he can prescribe a medication that works better for you. Just Google the name of the medication and side-effects and I'm sure you'll be able to find some help there.

Answer 6

Yes! I felt the exact same way about two years ago. I went to a therapist and she told me it could have been a learning disorder (they can come anytime) or ADD or some other stressor..so she recommended reading books. So I did and I got rid of that "writers block" and was able to concentrate more on other things as well. It really worked.

Answer 7

Have you talked to the doctor who prescribed the medication for you? It may need to be adjusted if you tell him your symptoms to either another dosage or another medication. Sometimes medications can cause strange symptoms so it won't hurt to ask the doctor to see if that is the problem.

Answer 8

It could be concentration problem and the antidepressants could be responsible partially. ask your doctor about this, maybe you could change them, lexapro has the least side effects. ask your doctor I repeat! you are too young to have these problems start and stay with you forever.

Answer 9

Sounds like clincial depression. Check with your family doctor.

Answer 10

yep, puberty, it sucks but it eventually goes away like a bad neighbor who borrows your brain and forgets to return it.