Questions About Memory, Avoidance, Dissociation

[TinkerG]

I have some questions about memory, avoidance and dissociation ...

I believe I have avoidance issues (avoidance coping?) because when I try to learn more about my PTSD, I will literally immediately forget what I wanted to look up, or I will think about something else before the question or topic is even fully formed. I didnt even realize I was doing this until recently which is why I joined the forum - to figure this out.

As I have said elsewhere on the forum, after leaving my ex I was diagnosed with PTSD and given drugs to deal with my depression, panic attacks and anxiety - one of these interacted with medication I took for falling down a flight of stairs and caused some brain damage to my long term and recall memory. But I am wondering how much is really brain damage and how much is psychological. I know the impairment of my ability to create long term memories is from the drug interactions.... but I have other problems too...such as word recall, loss of track in conversations and sometimes I cannot speak if you ask me a direct question. And forget about any response whatsoever if you talk to me in anything other than a soft pleasant tone.

Thoughts? Ideas? Advice?

 

[Riot]

@TinkerG, if pain is present or memory issues are causing problems and can't be pinpointed, they usually fall under the umbrella of psychological somatic problems. These are usually be treated by a psychologist or psychiatrist. In any event, from what I understand about the brain, cognitive exercise (which you get in therapy) is always a good way to help boost memory and prevent further degrading.

In short, it probably wouldn't hurt to be in therapy, and it might very well help.

 

[TinkerG]

Thanks, I appreciate the advice....It seems these problems always crop up at the worst possible time....I was doing better, not using any medication for my memory (my physical doc gave me SSRIs to help the memory - low doses of the SSRIs tend to help in this situation - off label use) but I developed an allergy (I am allergic to everything). I successfully avoided seeing a therapist when I could afford it and now that I can't afford it (I don't have insurance for psych) I find the need to see one...I am hoping that after I move I will be able to afford one again.