Posted by Noa on June 1, 2000, at 8:08:44
In reply to Re: Does Depression make you Stupid???, posted by michael on May 31, 2000, at 20:23:25
During the time I was hypothyroid, I felt so dense. I couldn't think things through at all, felt totally unorganized, couldn't think straight. I described it to my therapist as the feeling of having a brain full of cotton balls, or being foggy-headed. Then I read some books on hypothyroid, and discovered how common this sensation is! The term used widely is "brain fog". I thought it was the depression that did it, but it was at least in part, the hypothyroid.
Mostly, I think of my dulled intellectual capacity during depression as a function of having my mental energy tied up with depressive preoccupations, anxiety, etc., or just trying to to the daily basics. I know that when I am depressed, my basic problem solving abilities are shot. For little problems as well as big ones. The basic 1) define the problem, 2)generate alternatives, 3)choose a strategy, 4) develop steps to execute the strategy, 5) carry it out, etc. just aren't accessible to me when I am depressed. First of all, at the "define the problem" step, I get stuck feeling like the problem is more monumental and a sign of my moral or otherwise weakness or badness. But even if I can get past that step, I can't really generate alternatives effectively. I get stuck being anxious about the implications of various alternatives, judging myself, anticipating judgment from others, etc. Usually, when depressed, I never get any further than this. In contrast, when not depressed, I often can do this process easily and quickly, and am amazed at the difference.
poster:Noa
thread:35020
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000526/msgs/35482.html