Poll Swiss Cheese Brain a PTSD Side Effect?

[Dylan]

Thanks very much to everyone who replied. I think it's safe to assume that this is yet another symptom of PTSD (the gift that just keeps on giving, eh?).

Kers, I especially related to this: "....I think it happens whenever something triggers the slightest fear in me, even if it's only momentary. So it's stress-related, but not restricted to only high stress".

YES, that's exactly it...even the slightest fear trigger and my neocortex just shuts down as a matter of course....or blips in and out like some poor electrical connection.

I have read that the amygdala does gross generalizations (for example, a friend of mine used to live in rattlesnake country and so it was a big thing in that town's culture - a pretty constant vigilance in life. Since a bite can be potentially life threatening, it was her amygdala that did the judgment on the topic: now when she sees a squiggly rope in the basement, her mind thinks, "Snake!" even though the rope may resemble a snake only vaguely).

As I understand it (as a layperson), the hippocampus is responsible for more specific responses (as opposed to generalizations).

So, I guess part of the PTSD issue is that I switch straight into amygdala response and my hippocampus just hangs out being lazy, not doing any discerning or anything. No wonder I can't remember anything; I go straight to survival response and don't bother with activating memory (hippocampus).

Thanks again everyone....I'm not happy that anyone else struggles with this, but grateful to know that I'm not alone.

-Dylan

 

[Marlene]

So, I guess part of the PTSD issue is that I switch straight into amygdala response and my hippocampus just hangs out being lazy, not doing any discerning or anything. No wonder I can't remember anything; I go straight to survival response and don't bother with activating memory (hippocampus).

That damned, lazy hippocampus!!! Someone needs to take mine out and whip it into shape so it will do its job. I've got my amygdala working some serious OT picking up all the slack for my shiftless hippocampus. That's just not right. LOL

Lisa

 

[Dylan]

LOL...literally.

Thanks, Lisa...I needed that!

 

[cragger65]

I am in the same boat. I can just be having anxious thoughts, even though I have nothing to be anxious about, and I can't seem to make a cup of coffee. I mean really, you pour a cup, 6 steps to the fridge for some cream.... how hard should that be??? ;P

I'm trying the "feel the fear and do it anyway" approach to leaving the house. It doesn't solve the problem, but I avoid becoming paralysed by my fear of this condition and its symptoms, which has been a real issue for me all along, I think.

 

[fin]

thanks, it looks like .............a fine poll here to me .....also Dylan and I am sorry I have not been able to respond to it as yet. {thankyou for addressing mine though]

Thankyou also from me Dylan and Marlene. I have some Monteray Jack cheese slices now but no swiss cheese in the literal cheese sense, but in so far as my brain goes yes... holes, I like the word lapses i think [if thats applicable] ~


~me
[sorry still struggling here]
I will come back though and hope to be able to answer better your question Dylan [is this an ongoing open poll with no close date?]

 

[Josephine]

Yes, I get this problem all the time. I can't concentrate on what others are saying and I can't put responses together well. It seems as if I am interacting with others through a thick wall of fog. A lot of the time I'd rather avoid others than fight my way through it.

 

[Josephine]

Yes, I get this problem all the time. I can't concentrate on what others are saying and I can't put responses together well. It seems as if I am interacting with others through a thick wall of fog. A lot of the time I'd rather avoid others than fight my way through it.

 

[lrs]

For myself, this was totally going blank. It was as though I was totally short circuited somehow, and being unable to process anything period.
As I think back on it, I can recall, even my vision would go dim.

 

[LoveWins]

I really struggle with the most basic things sometimes. I never used to

 

[Heather]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one that feels this way. I feel like such an idiot lately. I can't comprehend what people are saying to me and I have to constantly ask for things to be repeated. And it can't be explained the same way cause I SIMPLY DON'T UNDERSTAND. It has to be explained using simpler terms, I swear my I.Q. has dropped 20 points.

Forget reading anything that is longer than 2 sentences. My attention span in non-existent and I can't remember sh*t. I don't want to live like this anymore.

 

[allitherapy]

I'm the only one who answered no... either I am really lucky or I just haven't had this happen yet.. hoping it doesnt

 

[Grace11]

I answered "intermittently" because it is slowly improving, but I still get the cheesy brain sometimes.