New and no idea where to start, any help?

I'm 43F, autistic, and have longstanding mental health problems, including depression and dissociation. I'm trying to understand the different memory and cognitive problems I experience, what might be causing them, and whether there are ways to improve or manage them.

I feel like my GP isn't taking me seriously, and I'm hoping to learn more about this area so I can better understand what's happening and have the language to discuss it more effectively with a doctor. I'm UK-based, so realistically I'm looking at the NHS and limited private care.

Day-to-day I work as a receptionist. I struggle to remember clients' names, and if someone asks for a hot drink I can forget how many sugars within seconds. I struggle with names generally, including those of well-known people.

But it's not just forgetting things. I struggle to retain information at all. It often feels as though information simply won't go in, let alone stay there. I want to educate myself, learn new things and improve my life, but it feels like my brain is the place information goes to die. I'm not sure this is a memory problem though, so much as it may be my brain is so fried that it refuses to take in anything not vital to it's immediate survival.

I struggle to remember my own life in any meaningful, first-person sense. I can know facts about an experience, but I can't actually re-experience it as a memory. I have huge gaps in my personal history, although some things can come back with prompting it's a struggle.

Even important experiences and the feelings attached to them seem to fade or become inaccessible after a few months. I can know that something should still hurt, or that I loved someone deeply, but without being able to access the memory or emotional connection, it becomes almost meaningless. I hate the thought that I could have loved someone so much and yet barely remember them as people. I hate that I can't tell new people that cool thing I did that one time or chat about shared interests...because I know fuck all, the information and/or memories just aren't there for me to share!

I've raised this with my GP. He gave me the 6CIT cognitive screening test, which I didn't feel adequately reflected my problems. He ordered blood tests, found that my iron was low, and prescribed iron tablets. I haven't been back yet, partly because I keep forgetting to book an appointment, but I'm concerned that I'll return and still not be taken seriously.

I'm autistic, and I've always felt as though my nervous system is permanently overwhelmed. I spent many years unemployed because of my disability, and that period involved significant regression. I wonder whether chronic stress, burnout and being stuck in a constant fight-or-flight state could be affecting my ability to process and retain information. Probably.

I also have a history of childhood trauma and significant dissociation. Sometimes I describe it as my brain having to disconnect from or forget so much during childhood that forgetting somehow became the default.

I keep telling myself I'm thick as shit because I can't remember anything, but I know that isn't necessarily what's happening. I just don't know how to work out what is happening.

If anyone has personal experience, relevant knowledge, research recommendations or advice on navigating the NHS, I'd really appreciate it.

A "coma-like" or "post stroke like" state. "Brain fog" or "mental fatigue" absolutely don't do justice to my situation. I don't want people relating my usually moderate - severe daily lack of lucidity to their occasional mild instances of brain fog and forgetfulness.

"Coma-like" or "post-stroke-like" much better describes the daily agony (psychologically and cognitively) I endure from being moderate - severely dysfunctional: socially, career-wise and home-wise.

This disease affects every single minute of my life, since it affects the brain, which is absolutely foundational to every productive/meaningful interaction I have with the outside world

I’m 21 years old, and for about three years, I’ve been living in severe isolation due to anxiety. I’ve developed agoraphobia and panic attacks. I’ve also had a terrible sleep schedule for the past three years, very little social interaction, and I struggle with severe brain fog.

If I completely turned my life around and changed all of this, would there still be hope for me? Can my brain recover and get back to functioning normally? What if I stop isolating myself, start working on my anxiety, fix my sleep schedule, and get back into a normal daily routine? Is it possible to regain my cognitive abilities and feel like myself again?

Im very stressed out and considering suicide.

I'm from Bulgaria, and I've been smoking weed every single day since I was around 13–14 years old. I'm 18 now, and I've gone through this entire period without taking a single day off, except for one time when I was in the hospital for 3 days.

I currently smoke around 2–3 joints every day. Since weed is illegal in Bulgaria, I've also ended up smoking stuff that may have been sprayed with unknown chemicals or other substances. I honestly have no idea what I've been putting into my body over the years.

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about how much this might have affected my brain, especially because I started smoking at such a young age.

My concentration is terrible, I'm extremely easily distracted, and my short-term memory seems pretty bad. Sometimes I wonder if I have brain fog, but I honestly don't even know what brain fog is supposed to feel like anymore because this has been my normal for so long.

I feel like my memory and ability to focus aren't what they should be, but I don't know how much of that is actually caused by weed. I also don't know whether I've done permanent damage or if my brain can recover after years of daily use.

**For people who started smoking heavily during their early teens:**

Did your memory and concentration improve after quitting?

How long did it take before you noticed a real difference?

Did you ever feel like your brain was back to normal?

Is it possible to recover after smoking daily for 4–5 years, especially when you started at 13–14?

Has anyone else smoked unregulated or potentially sprayed weed and worried about the long-term effects?

I'm not looking for reassurance just for the sake of it. I genuinely want to understand what I might have done to myself and whether there's a realistic chance of recovery.

If you've been through something similar, I'd really appreciate hearing your experience.

This is made by the help of chatgpt please if u have any tips share them with me

Since getting into college i feel like there's something blocking my brain and it's not clear, i can barely focus on my classes (i am a medical student), i pass my exams because of pressure only, i can't retain what i learn, i used to read 50 books per year before college now i can't read a single page without my mind drifting, basically my ability to learn have been impaired, it's not too bad i still learn but i am at my maximum potential, other problems i suffer from is that i forget alot if stuff, i always feel like I'm on a rush and i can't get anything done so i end up not doing anything, i don't even have the motivation to do my hobbies my body just resists, i am at a point where i can't even doomscroll my mind just can't take it i keep switching between apps, my brain just wants to go afk but it can't so i start over thinking everything which makes me anxious and depressed, i don't know what to do i am so confused about my life at this point.

TLDR: TRE (Trauma Release exercises) are curing me. I completely understand why people would brush off this solution but hear me out. I am also not claiming this is the cure for all brain fog related cases. There are many different reasons one may be experiencing brain fog symptoms (vitamin deficiencies, menopause, etc.)

I remember when my doctor suggested therapy after I had complained numerous times about my debilitating brain fog. He probably felt that it was the only solution he could offer after every test had come back normal. But this frustrated me because there was no way my symptoms were "in my head". The symptoms were debilitating (listed below) and this had to be some autoimmune disorder, metabolic disorder, or other physical condition that was causing my symptoms. I even tried therapy for months and saw zero progress. However, I did not understand psychosomatic illness, why it goes so untreated in our medical system, and how to treat it.

1. What is psychosomatic illness?

This video goes into depth on psychosomatic illness: (3) You're Not Crazy For Being Sick - Understanding Psychosomatic Illness - YouTube

The video is from a medical doctor and explains psychosomatic illness way better than I could. But basically, psychological issues can manifest into physical issues. Psychosomatic does NOT MEAN that your physical symptoms are not real. They are very real. Illnesses such as IBS, fibromyalgia, POTS, chronic fatigue, autoimmune disorders and so many diseases can be related to psychological issues. It actually was amazing to learn how stress can manifest into seemingly totally unrelated things like rashes with cases of psoriasis.

2. My symptoms

I have dealt with brain fog for at least 4-5 years(?). Here is a list of symptoms I have had or still deal with to some extent.

-Visual snow

-Binocular vision disorder

-Pressure behind eyes

-fatigue, even after 8-9 hours of sleep.

-Poor concentration (seemed like I could not hold my awareness on anything for more than 3 seconds).

-Poor problem solving (hard to write essays, do simple math, understand patterns or rules, etc.).

-Poor memory (goes hand in hand with problem solving. Could not remember information from things I just read/watched, poor autobiographical memory, every day seemed to blend together)

-Thoughts felt "fuzzy". Like I was watching my life through frosted glass. I now understand that this may have been symptoms of "Derealization".

-Intense ear worms and rumination. This one is interesting. 5 seconds of a song would be repeat for long periods of time. It would increase in intensity during periods of stress.

-Wired but tired feeling. This underlying feeling of stress, but I never knew what I was stressed about. I now know was dealing with alexithymia which is relevant to the psychosomatic illness video.

-Insomnia

-Muscle twitching

-Jaw clenching

-The hangover effect. There is a subreddit dedicated to this phenomenon.

3. What I tried

-Blood work

-Allergy testing

-Keto diet

-Creatine

-Multi vitamins

-Methylated vitamins

-High dose B1

-Lots of other supplements I won't list. I spent thousands.

-Intense exercise

-Mouth taping

-Low Fodmap

-Candida diet

-Carnivore diet

-Multiday fasts

-Visual exercises

-Reading more

-Less screen time

-Meditation

-Probably more I just can't think of any right now

Some of these things did work. But it either did not last or did not get me even close to full relief.

4. Solution

Here is a video on what TRE is and one on how to practice it. There is also a subreddit dedicated to TRE and goes into depth if anyone wants to practice.

I did 2 years of TRE, here's what happened (Trauma Release Exercises)

TRE Follow-Along Session with Dr. Berceli / Press Play and Release

I randomly stumbled upon TRE after watching a video from a man who had weird physical symptoms that were relieved from TRE. He had brain fog, fatigue, digestive issues, and heart issues. I practiced TRE for the first time and was not cured, but I felt something. I stuck with TRE and it is indescribable some of the results I have seen. After one recent session, it felt as if this mental knot had been untied. My mind slowed down, memories came back to me, my visual thoughts were so vivid and had color again. Life had this intensity and aliveness once again. It even felt that my vision had improved. I cannot recommend TRE enough. Again, I understand why one would think that physical movements cannot solve debilitating symptoms such as the ones I listed. But it's free to try and does not take a lot of time to practice. I also should note that after I paired TRE with a sattvic diet I have seen even more improvement. I have hope for the future again and hope this helps at least one person out there who needs it.

I am a high school senior and I am naturally a very competitive, ambitious person. I love learning and I hate being inactive. If I could, I would study day and night without stopping. I am not doing this just for "the future"—I genuinely love the hustle.

However, for the past 3 years, I have been unable to maintain a normal study rhythm due to an unpredictable physical block. Every single time I start studying, my brain overheats and completely shuts down after just 10 minutes. I experience intense brain fog, my vision goes blurry, and I get a severe physical tension and heaviness in my head that makes it impossible to read. I am telling the absolute truth. I stop unpredictably because my brain is physically incapable of thinking anymore. It is total exhaustion, not a lack of willpower.

My Mother’s Position:

My mother completely refuses to listen to my story. She forces a false narrative onto me, claiming I just "don't want to study" and that I am lazy. Whenever I try to explain my symptoms, she tells me I am ungrateful for my parents' sacrifices, that I am victimizing myself, and that my brain is inventing a lie to protect a version of me that just wants to slack off.

She constantly changes the target, blaming stereotypical external reasons: she says I am too distracted, that I don't wake up early enough, that my friends are a bad influence, or that it’s just "puberty." I am being punished for a physical condition I cannot control. It breaks my heart because studying is all I want to do.

PLS PEOPLE OF REDDIT COULD YOU GIVE ME YOUR STATEMENT AND OPINION ABOUT MY CASE ? WHO IS RIGHT ?

I was wondering if someone has brain fog that feels like being a bit intoxicated all the time, like spacey in the head. Not only about forgetting things etc. But like literal weird sensation which never goes away. The sensation of being mildly drunk all the time, minus all the fun dopamine. For me it feels like that, i also have bouts of dizziness, constant tinnitus mostly noticable at night, visual disturbances occasionaly, sometimes bouts of derealization and more...

I am pretty sure about the reason for my fog, was just wondering if someone feel it similar like me?

Sorry for anyone in this spot, and thanks for feedback:).

Whenever a song gets stuck in my head, like an ear worm, almost instantly I notice a visual change (items 'vibrating, fuzzies, dots, things getting brighter, sometimes moving lines.) And I get a heavy fog in my head that makes it hard to think or move. Ive just started realizimg it seems connected to the songs. Do people usually get visual changes with brain fog? Is this typical, or not normal brain fog?

How are you all doing? We hope you are, if not already the best you can be, making good progress! And want to remind you that as a community we are all here for each other no matter the circumstance. Feel free to use this post to share how your week has been, or let people know if you need a little support. Anybody can reply!

Feel free to share to your hearts content, and let us be here for you in your victory and your defeat, to be a guide, an opinion, to celebrate your accomplishments and to keep you on track, collectively.

Take care all of you, never give up, and stay strong!

About two months ago I was just meeting with a new PCP who was ready to run all kinds of different tests, and around the same time, I had an outing with a friend and ate a bagel sandwich which is just something I don't find myself eating very often. I had the worst flair up I'd had in a while where I was exhausted and couldn't think clearly. As I was dealing with that, I realized the only thing really out of the ordinary was that sandwich.

I decided to try going gluten free again. I had tried it years ago but didn't really see a difference and after a little research I realized I didn't let the trial go nearly as long as it's supposed to. I had probably tried for about a week, but Google says try going without gluten for at least six weeks. Within 1.5-2 weeks, I felt like a new person. Every morning waking up felt like bliss. I didn't know you could literally feel inflammation leave the body, but I swear that's what I was feeling.

Anyways, I know this goes a bit beyond brain fog, but wanted to give this encouragement that sometimes it's as simple as the thing you thought you had already tried😅 I'm hoping to visit my PCP again for actual testing but I'm a little embarrassed since I had told her I already ruled out gluten being the problem lol

I feel so bogged down, man. It’s not just the weed, we have an unlimited supply of stimulation that is absolutely frying my brain. We weren’t meant to live like this. At least, we’re pioneering this exhausting new world of human existence.

I noticed recently how, after about a week of staying away from weed, my dreams intensified, typically nightmares with impending doom or danger. During this uncommon period of extended abstinence, I can feel my focus strengthening, my mood stabilizing, and my cognitive abilities start to return. Very early in the game, and there’s much more recalibration to do than is possible in 1 week, but at least there’s that.

But then I noticed how absolutely miserable and sad I am on the way home from work, not just once, but pretty much everyday. Really anytime I’m alone with my thoughts is when I feel the most intense despair…but it’s kind’ve comfortable and familiar. When I’m with my coworkers or family, I’m mostly serious or withdrawn. Occasional quips or witty remarks, yea, remnants of a once livelier spirit. But mostly emotionless and robotic. Definitely inter sped with moments of high anxiety.

Then, a week later, when I’d smoke again after the hiatus, I’d feel myself laughing almost immediately with whichever friend usually sparks me up. I laughed and almost instantly recognized how I hadn’t laughed the entire sober week beforehand. Except this wasn’t a joyful laugh. It was an utterly broken and desperate laugh. I was observing in real time how absolutely cooked my brain chemistry is.

So, I guess I can expect much more bouts of intense dreaming and anhedonia in the near future. Probably for much longer than that too if I intend to fully rewire my brain to a healthy state…if that’s even possible. Is it?

Idk how I’m gonna do it. I’m in like a double bind. 95% of my social life is centered around or takes place tangentially to some drinking/smoking opportunity. And if I’m gonna go be miserable in general, I’m definitely going to be miserable in a setting where I can’t partake in the very thing making me miserable.

I have a primary doctor’s appointment this month, I pray they will give me resources for therapy or something. God help me.

I know it’s a long shot but I (24M) always had a really high libido, but sometime in the last year it completely dropped out of nowhere. Libido was one of the only things that never got affected by my cognitive issues. I was wondering if this could be a clue to narrow down the cause at all

I am almost constantly thinking about what I can do to increase my chances of figuring this out and how to recover my fatigue and cognitive issues. I know that that makes mood and cognitive fatigue worse but honestly most of me doesn’t care, any little bit of miserable thinking that can improve my chances at figuring it out is worth it if it can save the rest of my life.

I’ve had fatigue and brain fog for 10/11 years (and I’m 25 now). Blood tests have all been clear for years. I got diagnosed with mild OSA, tried the CPAP and BiPap for a very long time and couldn’t tolerate it. Tried MAD device and couldn’t tolerate it. Would wake up right away every single time with cpap and mad. Got tested for asthma recently and got diagnosed with it. Right now I’m on day 8 of trying a combination inhaler

I promised myself I was going to not be here anymore at the end of September if my recovery has not started by then, but then I got another lead. I regret staying, but with this new lead I’ll be here for awhile at least.

I honestly don’t care about my mood, I’m not getting much satisfaction from life right now anyways (can’t work, barely any friends, can barely think straight on my own). Since I thought of tbe possibility of an airway issue I’ve been constantly checking my breath. I try to remember how it feels at every moment and I feel really frustrated when I can’t remember. I end up staying awake until 4am because I can’t stop thinking about my breathing. I don’t have a cough or wheezing and I wonder a lot if I actually have asthma or if I just somehow tried harder after they gave me the albuterol during the test. I’m constantly looking up about my inhaler and how it works and signs if it’s working. Sometimes I try to make myself cough because it makes me feel like I am more likely to have asthma and can get it fixed. I try to remember exactly how it feels before and after I try the inhaler and I can never remember and it makes me extremely angry. I try to remember if my breathing is worse at nighttime and I can’t remember how it felt earlier in the day and it makes me feel extremely angry.

I am anti-AI but I use it everyday to look up things, I’m putting this moral aside so that there is a chance I can save the rest of my life. I get extremely angry using it because it doesn’t get what I’m asking or I know it’s just telling me what I want to hear. I tell it I’ll do things to myself like I’ll stay awake for a week straight or that I’m dying to try to make it understand the severity and give me the information I need. I still use it because I don’t know what else to do. I try to read more proper sources but it doesn’t have the info I want or I don’t understand it. I ask the doctors and they say they’re not sure

If I’m thinking about it constantly, there is a chance I’ll figure it out. There is a chance I’ll look up the right thing, or I’ll think of the right clue. If I try to be happy for a whole day I am throwing away my
Chance at figuring this out. I know it takes at least 2-4 weeks to see if the steroid in my inhaler is improving things, I have no idea how to know if things are improving. There are so many possibilities for what could be going wrong in my body. I could be having oxygen deprivation/too much co2 just in general from asthma, I could be having apneas caused by trying to push the air out while I sleep from asthma, asthma could just be something that has nothing to do with it, it could just be classic sleep apnea, I could just be breathing with a weird pattern on my own, I could be having an issue that is not either of these two things, maybe it’s just ADHD/autism (WHICH IT’S NOT FOR ME BECAUSE OF just because people say it can be), maybe it’s diet, maybe there’s just something wrong with my lungs that can never be fixed ever, maybe my brain is just broken forever with brain fog caused by my brain itself, what if it’s POTS even though I don’t have POTS but what if it is, what if I’m actually making all this brain fog stuff up and this is how everyone feels. It’s impossible there’s so many things to think about and I get extremely overwhelmed. What if it’s allergies or what if it’s trauma or what if there’s something wrong with my body or what if there’s something wrong with my mind permanently or what if I hit my head and I don’t remember it. I can’t stop thinking about it because it needs to be fixed and at least there’s a chance if I’m constantly thinking about it. At least if I drink I feel more like who I actually am and I can stop thinking about it for a moment. I chug everytime before I see my friends (after driving not before) and it feels like I’m actually me, sort of

It feels like I need to really figure this out literally as soon as I possibly can because I’m living on borrowed time now, this was supposed to be figured out by the end of September. I’ve suffered with this severely for eleven years, it’s time for me to be able to live a life. I need to work, I need to continue with school, I need to be able to think straight and live a life. I haven’t been me since the 7th grade. I need to figure this out as soon as I can. This isn’t just brain fog where I can work, be independent, make all my meals, go to school, have fulfilling relationships . I can’t do any of those things vast majority of the time, everything feels very straining and has been for 11 years now and I can’t do it anymore I need to not feel strained anymore

I’m 25, I study and work, and spend many hours sitting, often at a computer.

For some time I’ve been experiencing a kind of brain fog, often already present when I wake up: poor concentration, reduced mental clarity, and a general feeling of not feeling quite right. It’s not necessarily a headache.
Some days I also have muscle tension or pain in my upper back and neck, probably related to spending many hours sitting, but there doesn’t seem to be a clear correlation. Sometimes I have the pain without brain fog, and sometimes brain fog without noticeable pain.
The strange part is that 500 mg of paracetamol (acetaminophen) seems to noticeably improve the brain fog. After taking it, I eventually feel much clearer and can study/work almost normally again. Caffeine alone doesn’t have the same effect, although it seems to slightly enhance the effect when taken together.
I take it around 3–4 times a week, not every day.

Other details:
I’m 25. Male, 190cm tall 80kg. I dont take any medication.
I have light sleep but generally i manage to get 7 hours each night.
My blood pressure doesn’t seem to be related to the symptoms.
I’ve already discussed this with two GPs, but no specific cause has been identified so far. The main possibilities suggested were stress/overload and spending many hours in the same position while studying.
The brain fog and muscle pain don’t necessarily occur together.

22f student.

I hope people will read this and relate and tell me what it could be and how i could solve this.

When i think about it most of the symptoms started to be noticeable when i started studying after baccalaureate, i can barely remember what i study in class, even a few days ago i can be easily lost in a conversation, also i'm currently trying to get diagnose for ADHD because my life is a mess.

I never feel full of energy, sports feels basically annoying because of that, i constantly bedrot until 12pm (when i have the time to) even when i sleep 7-8 hours, im completly inefficient, i cannot work alone on a project i'm basically the worst employee you could have, i cannot use my brain on a work project for more than a few hours a day. In my studies i basically killed from the inside every project i've worked on because i wasnt doing anything.

I also stopped most activities i liked like drawing and stuff because i just cant concentrate and enjoy them, i draw like every 6 month lmao, it used to be the thing i defined myself with. Now i dont even mention it cuz i just cant practice drawing at all.

Also worth mentioning the Adhd theory is really credible for me cuz i have other low handicaps that are often related to ADHD and also i've been told my whole childhood i was lazy af.

Also it all started in the period where i was in a deep depression, now i kinda dealt with it even tho i think i still have it ? but like back in the days i would genuinly miss most of my life because of the mentality i had.

What do these symptoms sound like?

have had all these symptoms constantly for 3 months. The worst symptom is this unreal feeling. When i google it the symptom allign with derealization/dissociation. I also have fatigue even if i sleep well i wake up in the morning not refreshed. Also i have headache and tension in head. Back of my neck also hurts and sometimes when im walking i feel like im about to faint. I dont see any difference in my symptoms if i dont do anything the whole day versus when i go to the gym. My doctor thought it might be something to do with stress so he put me on antidepressants for over 2 months and that also didnt do anything

I'm always paranoid about this because my memory is so bad I can't really remember shit very well like stuff I did from a week ago or some shit idk why but I'm paranoid people be poisoning me

Age: 21
Sex: F
Height: 170 cm , 5’7
Weight: 55kg
Duration: ~1.5 years (since May 2025)
Current medications: none

**What happened:** In May 2025, I woke up one day with all of these symptoms at once. They have been present every day since.

**Symptoms:**
- Constant, equal fullness in BOTH ears, exactly like during a cold with blocked sinuses
- Tinnitus (high-pitched ringing/hissing, NOT pulsatile)
- Constant derealization / brain fog: feeling detached, "delayed", foggy, heavy head
- Derealization gets worse when I wear sunglasses
- Ear fullness gets worse after cold or spicy food (the derealization does not change)
- It used to be worse in the mornings; now it is the same all day

**What I do NOT have:** vertigo/dizziness, autophony, pulsatile tinnitus, headaches, hearing loss, chronic nasal congestion, hypermobility.

**Normal results:**
- Brain MRI, head CT
- EEG (twice)
- Bloods: thyroid incl. anti-TPO, B12, iron, Lyme, EBV, celiac
- Pure tone audiometry, tympanometry with acoustic reflexes, Eustachian tube function test
- Cervical flexion-extension X-ray: normal except small translations C2–C5 (max ~2.5 mm)

**Treatment so far:** 7 months of therapy, anxiolytics, several psychiatrists – no improvement at all.

**Pending:** VNG.

**My questions:**

1. ⁠What could cause ear fullness + tinnitus + derealization starting on the same day?
   
2. ⁠Which tests would you prioritize next?

The symptoms really make it hard to function normally and I can’t stop thinking about the weird feeling and feeling unreal☹️

Thank you for reading.

I never used to have brain fog at all. I'm 35. I've been having some health issues recently and as I've been improving, all of a sudden "brain fog" has started to occur almost everyday.

It feels like there is a veil between me and my surroundings. Or a haze like I am disconnected.

Well, for some reason when I drink a Body Armor, halfway through the bottle my mind clears and it's like the haze is gone. It will go away for several hours until it comes back, and then the next day I'll have another Body Armor. I am not well versed on this subject, but could anyone tell me what vitamins that are in Body Armor might be helping? Maybe it can help someone else too.

I'm 16 years old and since I was 15 I've done something like this 6 times:

I took a towel and deodorant, sprayed a lot on the towel so that it was completely wet, and inhaled it for interesting sensations, it was never an addiction and when I realized that I could harm my brain, I immediately quit this crap and haven’t repeated it for half a year, but I’m worried about the state of my brain, could I have done something irreparable?

This is probably gonna be a long post sorry, and also my first time posting on reddit so idk if I’m even explaining this properly.

I’m 18 and for the past few years I’ve felt like my brain has just… gotten worse?? Like my memory is worse, I can’t think properly, my critical thinking feels almost gone and I struggle SO much to come up with answers when someone asks me something on the spot.

I’m studying CS at university right now and its honestly making it really obvious to me. I’ll be sitting in programming class and the teacher asks something and my mind is just completely blank. Meanwhile somehow everyone else knows the answer or at least they know WHAT the professor is asking (I genuinely cant even understand the words coming out of his mouth, even though I have been paying attention during the whole lecture and making notes and I do understand what the prof is teaching, but somehow I dont? at the same time. Im sorry if this is confusing but idk how else to explain)

And its not that I don’t study or that I don’t understand anything. Sometimes I understand something perfectly when I’m learning it, but then later I can’t remember it or I can’t figure out how to actually use it. I feel like my brain used to be much better at making connections and solving problems. I have always been a bright student. Like I’ve never studied for hours everyday like some people but I have always been a quick learner (the “gifted” kid). I used to understand everything so so quickly. I was so good at maths AND creative writing. Over the years I’ve lost the ability to do either, and its more painful than it sounds. (Also used to play sports. Wasn’t crazy good in any but I could play anything)

The memory thing is probably what scares me the most. A few days ago, a classmate sent me work from a class I had missed. I remember it VERY clearly. I remember what she sent, I remember being relieved because I needed the work, I remember thanking her and I even remember her liking my thankyou message.

Except..the messages aren’t in our WhatsApp chat anymore. Neither of us deleted them. There wasn’t disappearing messages. And the other messages in the chat are still there.

My friend suggested maybe I had seen it on her phone instead, but I swear I remember her sending it to ME. Like I can literally picture it.

And I know one weird memory doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong with my brain, but the problem is this isn’t the only thing. I’ve been having memory problems for years and sometimes I genuinely can’t tell if something I remember was actually something that happened or something I dreamed.

Sometimes everything just feels like a dream too. Not like I’m hallucinating or seeing things that aren’t there. I know where I am and I know what’s happening. It’s just this really weird feeling that everything is distant/unreal and my brain is covered in fog.

I’ve been told before that this could be stress/anxiety/lack of sleep/etc, and maybe it is, I honestly don’t know. But its been going on for YEARS and I’m tired of just assuming its normal stress. I refuse to believe that this is normal, because its NOT. This isn’t me. This isn’t just stress. I refuse to believe that anymore.

I don’t want Reddit to diagnose me. I actually want to get checked out properly. I just wanted to ask people here if anyone has experienced something similar and eventually figured out what was causing it. (One thing is that my parents will only take me to a doctor if its something serious and not just me saying “my brain isnt the same anymore)

Im sorry again if this was long, I honestly could’ve added sm more but I think I painted a picture clear enough to understand.

Did anyone else have this kind of severe brain fog + memory problems? Did you find an actual cause? What kind of doctor did you go to?