My mind has been "cloudy" for the last 10 years or so, and it's ruining my life?

Question

MHO will be given to the most in-depth answer. One liners will not even be liked (zero xper for you)=my only rule here

Back when i was in elementary i was able to solve puzzles all the time, often being able to rudimentarily come up with math equations that i had never known and learning games as well as reading large books in a matter of a day. Now after years of education and halfway to my degree i feel as though my potential is now blocked from the copious hours of starring at a somewhat piece of text. But i have to wonder, since i have tried to light that spark again and again if there is something else going on here. When i try to recall things, they are often gone from memory no matter how hard i study. I have been having mild headaches to the point of where i simply get used to it and the pain is gone as i have become accustomed; but is there perhaps anyone else here with this issue?
Me:
-Calm demeanor/sparratic at times (sometimes too calm)
-Above average IQ but not near mensa
-eat healthily, though not taking in as much calories as needed (2500 in total) since i am dieting
-Excercise 4-5 times a week
-Sleep 6-8 hours each night

Wondering weather this is simply due to hormones, i am turning 21 in a few days but i honestly am not well read on what could be occurring. Help

redeyemindtricks · Accepted Answer

OK, I suspect that one of 2 things is going on here. Well, actually I suspect that two of 2 things are going on here, lol... but, at least one of them.

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#1, I suspect that you are not Changing Shit Up.

You work out, right? I think you've posted some stuff on a few of the workout threads.

If you work out, then, you're probably familiar, on at least a base level, with the principle of "muscle confusion" -- basically, the idea that you have to Change Shit Up, lest yr muscles get used to the workouts that yr doing and hit a plateau. (Yes, that's simplistic, but, it's a pretty decent first-order approximation.)
Ok.
Are you doing the same thing with yr mind?
Or, have you been doing the same mental "workouts", day in day out, week in week out, month in month out, for YEARS?
Probably the latter.
If you are like most people, you have probably been doing the same things, AT the same times, FOR the same times, for many many years... and then wondering why you are hitting a mental plateau. Gee, I wonder.

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#2, I suspect that you are not optimizing yr life.

(Background: I have a history of very severe sleep disorders, as described in the opinion i wrote on this thread www.girlsaskguys.com/.../q1887876-how-long-do-you-usually-sleep-for )

When I was dealing with getting 10-15 hrs/wk of sleep, I started keeping journals of EVERYTHING. Food intake, caffeine, drugs, productivity, mood, depression, motivation, libido, fidgeting, heart rate, coordination, stuttering/speech errors/slurring, shit my friends said I was doing weird, etc.
Anyway, it didn't take long for very distinctive patterns to emerge, as far as when I did certain things well and when I didn't.
If I had to try to memorize things, that'd be best to do at X time, with Y amount of caffeine and Z food and other stuff. If I wanted to do creative stuff, that'd be best at A time with B caffeine and C food/drugs which would have D effect on my mood. Etc.

As a freelancer now, I'm pretty awesomely efficient as a result. There are times when I can literally do the same work 3 times as fast as I can at other times... so I do it at the faster times. What would be 20 hours of work if I did it at the wrong times, or under the wrong circumstances, becomes 6-10 hours of work under the right circumstances.
Etc.
Have you tried to develop any of this kind of (cont'd)

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I have had this problem before, but I have a disorder. Not sure if you have this disorder, but I have a thyroid problem. When my thyroid was off when I was in college, it was really bad. I would literally carry 30lbs of water weight and then drop it randomly. So one day I went to school in tight pants, then I came home having to hold them up because they were falling down :/

I had to avoid anything with salt in it because it would make me balloon up. My back muscles would seize up and everything too. I felt really tired all the time and like you, my memory would be terrible.

I had a really hard time reading my textbook because by the time I got to the bottom of the page, I had no idea what I read.

It could be that you have a problem. But it cold also be the material. Is the material you are reading dry? Or does it engage you? I found when I was reading stuff that was engaging my memory of it was better. Perhaps you need to just make some notes when reading.

How I helped myself in my condition was I would write in my textbook (I bought my textbooks), I made little summary notes on each paragraph, so when I would go back to read it, I had less to read.

This made studying a breeze! I summarized the most important points in each paragraph and then I didn't have to read through everything.

NearlyNapping · Accepted Answer

This could be a lot of things, including something medical. However I'm going to guess that it might be burnout, and that you need to either take a break, or need some kind of change of pace.

People used to think I was nuts when I said that too much school makes you stupid. But I'm serious. Formal school and hard studying gives you knowledge, but it makes you "cloudy" as you put it. Sometimes pulling back is the best way to see clearly.

Like the saying "You can't see the forest for the trees." Sometimes when you are looking intently at the trees, you fail to see the bigger picture. Clear mindedness is usually about not thinking, as much or more than it's about thinking. It's about contemplation or simple observation.

Imagine Archimedes sitting in his bath tub. What do you think he was doing in his eureka moment? Do you think he was intently thinking in a logical step by step process? Or do you think he was just chilling in a nice warm bath? Then suddenly, without much thought, it just comes to him from simple observation.

I call it a leap of faith. There is no connection between two things, then suddenly there is a connection. There is a gap, then suddenly there is no gap. It's not a logical progression form one to the other. It just happens, Eureka! Too much thinking and education under pressure destroys that ability, or at least severely limits it.

Sometimes when you have a problem that you can't find the solution to, the trick is to walk away. Then out of nowhere the solution is clear. The same thing happens with individual problems builds up over time. After years and years of formal education, your mind starts to go numb.

It might not be practical to drop out of school. But are there any alternatives? Like slow down for a while? Maybe take a semester off? Even a weekend in the mountains? Anything to give you a change of pace for a while and break out of the rut.

Levin · Accepted Answer

10 years, since you were 11? That's a little unusual tbh. I'd expect people to stop fostering good habits in their mid to late teens. You say you get a lot of headaches, what others symptoms do you get? Do you get drowsy? What emotions are you registering on a day to day basis? I know it's a bit intangible, or indeed, I have to extrapolate on the limited information you have provided, but it does sound like you're doing something you're not particularly passionate about, or that does not light the fire? Are you doing all that education, in that subject area, out of well, familial/societal obligation?

Umm, the other thing is, someone mentioned coconut oil. It's pretty high in saturated fat isn't it? I'd be wary of eating too much of foods high in saturated fat with your symptoms, too much cheese, chocolate and coconuts to my mind, well I'm not aware of anything else in the natural environment with such a high degree of saturated fat as coconuts - highly sceptical of their superfood status.

SirenDep · Answer

The methods for learning from the weakest to the most powerful are the following: listening-reading-watching-experiencing. If you listen to a teacher talking about something, you can be focused on him only for a small amount of time, then your attention will drift elsewhere. If you read the lesson at home, you will get a better understanding. If you see a documentary or if the teacher presents the lesson with powerpoint, it's much more easier to retain something in memory. The best way to learn is by experiencing, though, like solving exercises, writing papers, doing experiments/research, checking on how accurate or honest is the knowledge you get.

Personally, I hate memorizing. I have to understand and analyze what I read. eg, in history I like to know why and how an event happened and link it to an era, and only them I'm able to learn the names and the dates. In physics I can learn the laws If I understand the logic behind them, etc.

Jack_S · Answer

I see lots of good posts so i won't repeat what they said, but no one mentions the empty box.

In our mind, men have boxes of memories and knowledge. One for medical info, one for automobile experiences, one for love. Most men have an empty box.

That empty box is what we open when we aren't obsessing or focusing on thing we need to fix or improve something.

Using the empty box clears our heads, and makes the world seem simpler. Guys can open thsis box in different ways. Some watch sports, some play video games, some split wood.

Maybe you need to open that box more often

Im no experst or anything, just a thought

Mustachekitteh · Answer

Only thing that comes to mind is that you've burned your brain out. Like after all of that learning for so long. It's burned your mind out from not getting enough rest from constantly taking in information. Though not sure if that's really the case I'm not a psychiatrist. Though the psychiatrist that I see is extremely awesome. :D

Have you tried meditating? That or any other way to clear your mind for like 30 minutes to 1hr?

Though I can relate to the headaches and issues not retaining anything memory wise. No matter how hard I study something. Though the reason for why I can't is due to having adhd and autism. Since a learning disorder came with having both.

Cookies_AndMilk · Answer

I just learned about this recently in my psychology class. We were learning about child prodigies. Usually when a child is gifted their learning exceeds that of children their own age, however as they get older it starts to even out. Prodigies typically start off at a rocketing pace and eventually it slows down. You're experiencing something normal. There isn't anything wrong with you, it's just how things usually play out. Kid geniuses don't stay that way forever, they usually turn out above average as you've described.

aficionado · Answer

If you're about to turn 21, I'm pretty sure it isn't about your hormones.

It looks like your pushing yourself too hard, and it's having a negative effect on you. You brain is now more mature, than it was when you were in high school. The potential you have can't really be 'blocked'. It's just a temporary blockage, which is probably a result of you over-thinking this matter, and convincing yourself that there is something wrong with you. This happens subconsciously, without you even being aware of it.
The constant headaches can be a cause for concern, though. Get yourself examined asap, to rule out anything serious.

I have faced similar issues, although not the same as yours.

lolatyou · Answer

Do you have chronic pain, high blood pressure or a low iron count by any chance or have you had any of that and other things checked recently?

I have all three and they have really impacted my memory and concentration the past 10 years or so. I'm sure other health issues could cause that as well but those are the only ones that I have experience with personally.

I also work out 4-5 times a week and eat healthy most of the time so that doesn't always fix everything lol

COCOCHANEL · Answer

i think it may be your environment or lack of mental stimulation in your everyday life. i tend to get depressed and lack motivation. what i found helpful: regulating my sleeping pattern, taking vitamin b2 and b6, reducing junk food and increasing organic leafy vegetables. you also might benefit from counseling.

it may all be in your mind though. like, being too self-conscious about it.

Bandit74 · Answer

I think we learn things more easily and retain things better when younger. Thats supposedly why its better to try and learn a second language when you're young.

I also think we tend to remember things more easily if we have a genuine interest in them. If you're depressed that could also play a role in causing you to feel less interested or less excited compared to when you were younger. Depression could affect your focus and motivation.

Chief16 · Answer

Boredom, my friend. A genuine lack of genuine excitement. You aren't having enough fun, probably because you're not doing what you love or slaving away with no results.
Happens. The cause of all stupidity in this world is boredom. Go bungee jumping or para diving or something, you should get some of that chi back.

JamielovesKU · Answer

I agree this sucks I used to be able to do the same. They say if you eat a teaspoon of coconut oil a day it's supposed to help but I've never tried it...

RedRobin · Answer

I have that problem too, I think it's probably to do with boredom. Try to get out of your comfort zone every so often and see if it makes a difference.

abundantlyrich · Answer

Brain tumours? If you get headaches Vitamin D deficiency also causes poor memory

Anonymous · Answer

Sounds like a brain tumor or early onset alhimers you should probably go to the hospital asap

My mind has been "cloudy" for the last 10 years or so, and it's ruining my life?

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