Does Anyone Else Have Trouble Researching Due To Ptsd?

[Philippa]

I'm not actually sure it has to do with PTSD at all, or CPTSD as I was told I have (though didn't really believe it for about 8 years after that.) but I seem to have great trouble sticking with reading through information online, when researching any subject. I feel like I am faced with a mountain of stuff I still need to work through in order to form accurate and non biased opinions about all things that are currently going on, so often I end up giving up and remaining on the fence about many things.

It feels so daunting and I think I actually have some kind of block towards researching! I was recently updating on the whole feminism vs MRA issue that is hot at the moment in AMerica and canada, and my brain ended up shortcircuiting from all the stuff I had to sift through. I depended mainly on smart friends I know who I know do a thorough job researching...but I don't feel that it is helping me with critical thinking much, and may be making me more dependent on them if anything.

I feel like my I.Q lowers everytime I don't do a thorough enough job and post stuff on facebook without even checking or questioning them these days...which ends up making me feel pretty silly when friends bring it to my attention that it's a hoax or whatever.I know questioning everything is a good habit to be in and I used to do this all the time and didn't just accept everything I heard at face value. Now I feel like I've regressed or something and it's starting to worry me. I get anxious about it.

It has been an ongoing issue for me for many years now, in that I just don't know which sources to trust out there. Can anyone relate to this? I'm sure it has a lot to do with just the fact that we are privy now to so much information that it can become overwhelming and intimidating...and I definitely feel overwhelmed. I also have trouble with my eyes becoming sore and feeling like i'm not really absorbing the information anyway, and end up distracting myself and giving up on it all together...which leaves me back at square one.

 

[Mayday]

I can relate! It's like my brain just can't hold or process information very well. Good thing I never wanted a career in acadamia :-P

 

[Philippa]

Yes, except I have to sometimes deal with people who are in the academic area and hearing them treat me like I'm a dummy and try and "educate me" on things they don't even practise themselves is intolerable. Honestly, I feel like having all this info isn't making any of us smarter anyway...it's just filling our heads up with stuff and blocking us up so we can't think properly. But it's making us think we are smart, which is the whole deception on the internet I guess.

 

[Mayday]

I'm of the opinion that the more convoluted an idea or opinion is, the less substance it has. If people want the public to be informed on an issue then they need to present the info in concise, clear terms.

People can have a tendency to use research, facts etc as smokescreens to muddy the issue.

It's the same as using design principles. A poster that has too much information fails at getting anything across.

I figure, I'm an artist not an academic. I think in terms of big picture, not boring details :-P

 

[Philippa]

Things do seem to need more condensing...I don't think people understand the fact that we are bombarded so much daily, so we need the info to be broken down into easily digestible sections.

 

[billie]

Yeah I do, it is almost impossible to retain information. I do sympathize with you, my lecturers know of my condition and provide extra support.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I used to do research all of the time to the point of obsession. I would read and take notes and underline in books etc.

Now I do not do research anymore. I think there is a information overload going on right now and there are so many conflicting studies etc.

Even our language is changing so fast. It seems that politically correct corrupts the information.

I love satire because it gets the point across in a funny way.

My mind cannot handle information overload anymore. Mabe someday I will try again, but I am taking a time out for my own peace of mind. I do not watch the news at all.

Everything seems to have a bent or a bias and that is too confusing for my mind to grapple with.

Dealing with being overwhelmed means to me it is time for self care and not exposing myself to things that I do not entirely believe.

I wish you the best on this one. Research was my passion. I even used to go to the library and research I loved it so much.

Now I am just focusing on my own sanity, my well being, my peace of mind and being positive because there is so much in our world that is so darned negative and I have had more than my share of being around the negative.

Just a thought but mabe you could focus on subjects to research that are more uplifting and positive. If not just ignore me. Thinking of you and wishing you the best on this one.

 

[mamachick]

I can relate totally. Even simple articles on ptsd or related topics, I find myself reading the same sentences over again to process. I dont know if it is distraction, lack of comprehension, or what, but it makes me want to avoid it.

 

[Candleflames]

My head is so full of emotional crap and ruminations of my past that I can't seem to focus on anything. They fly around in my brain so fast that I can't even hold a thought for more than a couple of seconds too. It's so frustrating. :sour:

 

[Dee Morris]

I get overwhelmed easily and often feel like my focus problems are more ADD like. I have to read and reread pretty much everything.