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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by FredPotter on August 6, 2007, at 15:36:46
Ever since I was a teenager I've had this problem. I start a thought and then hold on like mad in case I forget what I'm thinking. It happens often these days. I suppose this is what's called a cognitive problem. In the early days I read it was an early sign of schizophrenia, which scared me to death. I'm 61 BTW and too old for schizophrenia I think, but not too old for Alzheimer's of course. I think it was a symptom of anxiety however. But now I'm successfully on Nardil and Xanax and it's worse than ever. Can anyone please explain what it's all about and what can be done to alleviate it? It's a bit like losing the thread when on pot
Thanks
Fred
Posted by nickguy on August 6, 2007, at 17:29:03
In reply to Thought blocking, posted by FredPotter on August 6, 2007, at 15:36:46
> Ever since I was a teenager I've had this problem. I start a thought and then hold on like mad in case I forget what I'm thinking. It happens often these days. I suppose this is what's called a cognitive problem. In the early days I read it was an early sign of schizophrenia, which scared me to death. I'm 61 BTW and too old for schizophrenia I think, but not too old for Alzheimer's of course. I think it was a symptom of anxiety however. But now I'm successfully on Nardil and Xanax and it's worse than ever. Can anyone please explain what it's all about and what can be done to alleviate it? It's a bit like losing the thread when on pot
> Thanks
> Fredcould you explain an example of one of those thoughts? I hold on to a thought that I think helps and repeat it over and over again. (it also seems like an anxiety related thing for me, too)
Posted by Phillipa on August 6, 2007, at 19:45:29
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by nickguy on August 6, 2007, at 17:29:03
Fred I've always had to write everything down so I don't forget. And no you don't have Alzeheimers. Could be anxiety like when someone asks you something you know and can't recall it then anxiety in the way but later your remember? Like this? Love Phillipa
Posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 0:19:29
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by nickguy on August 6, 2007, at 17:29:03
Oh any thought. I'm afraid I'll lose track before I finish the thought. It's even worse when the TV is on, so perhaps it's poor concentration. Hey I've got a cognitive problem! (I take Xanax)
Posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 0:21:22
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by Phillipa on August 6, 2007, at 19:45:29
Phillipa I think it's a sort of anxiety, but maybe some OCD mixed in. I'm confident I don't have schizophrenia Fred
Posted by ConfuzyQ on August 7, 2007, at 11:54:52
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 0:19:29
> Oh any thought. I'm afraid I'll lose track before I finish the thought. It's even worse when the TV is on, so perhaps it's poor concentration. Hey I've got a cognitive problem! (I take Xanax)
Hi Fred, this may not be the same kind of thing at all, but it feels like it to me somehow. I have a love-hate relationship with reading, because no matter what it is, I read *everything* as if I have to memorize it. No matter how unimportant it might be, I will read the same sentence over and over if I realize I "wasn't paying attention" for a minute there. Therefore I read at an even slower pace than typical speech.My thoughts are also in full and complete sentences, and often I even go back and "edit" them over and over.
This all feels like "keeping track" and "holding on" to thoughts, as you say. Is any of it similar to what you meant? For these and other reasons, some kind of hybrid ADD/OCD thing has been proposed in my case. But so far, any med I've tried to help with it either hasn't (i.e., ADHD meds) or just makes me feel more at peace and less guilty about being this way (i.e. Xanax).
Posted by englishman006 on August 7, 2007, at 12:01:03
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 0:21:22
Sounds like poor signal to noise ratio,(too much background noise distracting you from focusing). Also commom is prefrontal cortex (PFC) shutdown which can happen the harder you try to concentrate. Adding anxiety into the mix, as a result of loseing your train of thought, will further inhibit the PFC. If you don't have trouble with anxiety generally it may just be passive ADD. Do you daydream alot? Are you always internally occupied?
Posted by englishman006 on August 7, 2007, at 12:07:43
In reply to Thought blocking, posted by FredPotter on August 6, 2007, at 15:36:46
Sorry Fred, just re read your initial post. Nardil can relieve anxiety but can cause short term memory problems, especially in high dose.
Posted by nellie7 on August 7, 2007, at 15:24:27
In reply to Thought blocking, posted by FredPotter on August 6, 2007, at 15:36:46
Hi Fred,
I suffered from thought blocking for a period of almost ten years and, like you, feared it was a symptom of schizophrenia.
Many other things can cause such problems. Several possibilities are anxiety, ADD or depression, which can cause many symptoms of cognitive decline.
My problem with thought blocking began as a result of taking benzos. Some people experience similar reactions to these drugs, so if you feel worse on xanax, that may be one explanation.Nellie.
Posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 15:51:50
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by ConfuzyQ on August 7, 2007, at 11:54:52
Yes to the reading thing. I'm an avid reader so it's a bugger really. I have to read the same sentence 3 or 4 times sometimes as my mind wanders. Mind you I'm reading an impenetrable book by Daniel Dennett at the moment. However I think normal people have this experience especially when tired. Also the experience of going to the fridge and then forgetting why and gazing inside for inspiration is quite common in normal people. Maybe fatigue, but I think it's more likely that I'm doing one thing but thinking of something entirely different. The thought blocking really feels like the schizophrenia description. A sudden complete emptying of the brain, accompanied by panic. When speaking the auditory echo helps me keep on track
Posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 15:58:07
In reply to Re: Thought blocking » FredPotter, posted by nellie7 on August 7, 2007, at 15:24:27
Thanks Nellie and everyone for your encouraging words. I also took statins for years before recently giving them up owing to muscle pain. However they've also been known to cause major memory problems, even transitory global amnesia, where you forget who you are, where you live and don't recognise your loved ones. Very scary. All because of some imagined disease: hypercholesterolaemia. I'm told it can take a year to recover from the damage, supplementing with Coenzyme-Q10 and Astaxanthin
Fred
Posted by Phillipa on August 7, 2007, at 21:33:05
In reply to Re: Thought blocking, posted by FredPotter on August 7, 2007, at 0:21:22
No I don't think you have schizophrenia but you must be like me I have some OCD and now as of today am on xanax been on it before. Love Phillipa
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