Poll Does Ptsd Cause You To Not Retain Information Well?

[Philippa]

I was speaking with a good friend the other day about how I have a major block towards researching on the internet. I think it stems back to how I would find it so hard to retain information long enough to regurgitate it again to others in conversation. Things came out all jumbled and I felt like I my I.Q was dropping by the second, which felt pretty crappy.

I am not technically a technophobe, as I don't really fear computers, but I don't really LIKE them very much, and I seem to get this very uncomfortable pressure in my stomach area whenever I go to read some informations on a link etc. That pressure feeling does not go away unless I distract myself from researching, or stop all together.

I have a real resistance to research, and it's not just laziness...it's actually not trusting my judgement enough to be able to find reliable sources of information that i can contribute to a conversation that won't end up making me look like a twat in front of people I respect and like.

What ends up happening though...which I didn't realize until yesterday when I actually asked my friend, is that I am then perceived (by him at least) as not really backing up claims with reliable links and he feels like he cannot have a conversation with me because of that, and that I am wrong about some stuff.

It made sense. I explained from my side of the fence, and fortunately for me, my friend has been through quite a lot himself and has experienced the same thing at various times in his life, so I did not have to worry about him judging me for it...he understood.

Anyway, I'm just wondering how many people here have the same issue with information retention, and also being able to successfully speak the information in a way that comes out making sense and being accurate, without forgetting half of it.

If there is anyone else who also has a block towards researching on the internet, I'd be interested. I think I'm the only one in the world with this particular block. :D

 

[ms spock]

When the panic and anxiety is high I really stress about remembering things.

 

[Philippa]

I put I am always like this, but then wondered if I also do retain info well at other times, and I've just forgotten, or not acknowledged to myself that I do. The anxiety seems to come from even trying to read informations, because I worry that I won't be able to remember it when I try and have a conversation with people.

It's been a cause of angst for some time actually, and I've never really addressed it here or anywhere else. I just got so used to it being part of life for me that it became normal.

I stopped talking for a couple of years, and that was partially because I noticed that whenever I opened my mouth, stupid stuff came pouring out, and it was all word soup...which was embarrassing, as I used to make fun of people who said stupid stuff. Suddenly I was one of them. My evolution has come full circle in many ways. You have to experience things for yourself to really get how it is for other people.

I also just didn't like talking that much, and preferred to just listen. I kinda forced myself to talk more...which I feel a bit shitty about actually. I went against my natural tendency and preference to try and assimilate back into society after taking such a long break being outside...but I was actually more comfortable and happy being outside and just being and listening. I would like to go back to that, but it is hard to be around people when I am like that. People feel uncomfortable being around a person who isn't talking. Most people anyway.

 

[HelenB]

I definitely struggle with retaining information at the moment. I even played a memory game with my seven year old this week and could not even remember the card which had been turned over straight after she had had her turn, which highlighted it to me even more how bad it is at the moment, as even when I really tried I just could not think and remember it at all.

It definitely does vary a lot and at times it is better than others, but I do find it hard how much harder it is at the moment, particularly as I am in the middle of a degree with the open university and finding the time to study is limited enough without also having the issue that at times I just cannot even think enough to take in any of my work or reading.

Helen

 

[crazy8]

This only happens to me when I am dissociating. Otherwise I don't have any experience with this.

Are you referring to dissociation, or something else altogether?

 

[franciemarnie]

When I am under tremendous stress, I have trouble speaking, focusing, thinking clearly and retaining information. It's like my circuits are overloaded. If I am sleep deprived on top of it, forget about it. Best plop myself down in front of the TV and wait it out.

 

[rightkindofme]

I have some short term memory issues but in general I have a ridiculously good memory. Something that I have had to learn to feel ok with is the fact that I don't remember numbers all that well. I simply *can't* exchange statistics with people. Numbers don't stick in my brain at all.

When people want me to "back up everything I say with studies" I reply with: Citation Needed Is Not A Counter Argument

I don't tend to try to talk people into changing what they believe or do. I just talk about what I've read. If people need to see everything I read then I send them a snarky email with a link to: www.lmgtfy.com and some search terms.

 

[John_]

I think we take in all the information around us but our PTSD takes priority in our mind and decides whats important for us to think / remember. I personally can spend several hours watching a 45 minute TV show because I keep having to rewind as I failed to take the story line in, I force myself to keep rewinding until I finally understand whats happening. I hope that by doing this I may improve my memory and general life. In contrast to this I can never forget some of the things in my life even though I'd like to. In past traumatic situations I can remember such small details such as where rain drops were on the ground etc. In short I think this is normal and we shouldn't let it stop us from trying to live our lives.

 

[madmax]

Living a fragmented life does not lend itself to a solid memory recall personality.

 

[Philippa]

Thanks everyone.

I am the same John, in the way I feel the need to re-read or watch things to make sure I have absorbed the full context of what is there, and I don't always feel like I get it the first couple of times.

I was speaking to a friend the other day about this subject, and he said he finds it hard to have a conversation with me as I never back things up with studies, and he is very well researched...but I honestly don't feel like spending hours and hours filling my head with information on the internet is going to make me any wise...it just fills my head up and blocks me up. Information isn't the same as knowledge, but most people seem to think it is...which I don't get.

I think people are under the impression that having access to all the information in the world is making them smarter, when I don't get that feeling at all, especially when it comes to debating where people tend to get so caught up in having to be 'right' and get stuck in ego wars.

I remember going through a phase years ago where i read so many books, and i loved reading but it got to the point where my head felt so full, that now I hardly ever read books, and if I do, I usually don't read them all the way through...I will read some and then put it down, sometimes for months.

I think filling my head with too much stuff blocks me up in other ways.

 

[Barconian]

All the time... I can't change it so I except it

 

[digger]

What was the question again?....................