Losing it

[ams24]

I'm still young but I can feel my intelligence slowly slipping. I had always been a strong student - in grade school and in college - but these days, I have trouble even remembering certain words I've known since I was twelve, words that aren't even difficult to understand or use. They're always at the tip of my tongue, and if I do get them, they take forever to roll off.

I used to be more confident in what I said, too, especially since I never had to grasp at the air to retrieve the words I wanted to use. If I knew what I was trying to say, then I knew which words I wanted to say them with.

I've noticed that my writing is deteriorating, too, which is why I've made up my mind to write at least one post a day to refresh my thoughts and dust off my writing. I've been trying to read more often, too, which I haven't had the time, energy, or discipline to do over the past year. And to think I used to spend most of my days and nights reading literature and essays, and writing responses and essays, back when I was in college. I was so lucky to learn so much day after day.

[Sam988]

You say you have little, almost no time to read.


What sorts of mind-challenging activities are you doing?

Or are you just vegetating in a boring job? That would explain your decreasing mental acuity.

[realignedliving]

I agree with Sam to an extent - use it or lose it! Your best bet is to practice up your mental skills again; I think part of the problem lies in the fact that you're scaring yourself to death that you're intelligence is slipping (who wouldn't be scared of that?)

Start rereading some of that literature you read in college, writing like you started to, doing logic puzzles, and so on. Eventually you should feel more confident, and you'll notice your brain power coming back.

[tylerlloyd]

I often feel the same way - but the more I actually write and read the more "attuned" I get to thinking of that nature and it comes a lot easier.

I think writing a post a day is a good start - just make sure you keep it up

[John Hill]

In my experience publishing a number of websites I find that writing, reading and comprehending are much like playing a sport. The more you practice, the better you get.

I think you still have all the skills you have always had but are perhaps suffering from a mild case of self sabotage. In time as you continue to write each day I think you will find new things to inspire yourself and get back to how you were before.

John

[medaille]

For me, it feels like there's a solid tie between my physical health and my mental ability. The last year or two I've been dormant physically in that I spent a lot of time applying for jobs and in the desk job I currently have and have pretty much ignored my physical self. I've definitely noticed a decline in how "sharp" I feel.

I'm exercising for many reasons, but haven't gotten the results as it hasn't been very long since I restarted.

Hope you find a solution cause it certainly doesn't feel very great.