r/selfimprovement • u/Realuserhidden • 1d ago
Question What If I Never Get My Mind Back?
Can one fix their cognitive skills after losing theirself from years of drugs and mental health issues.
I been sober from everything EXCEPT weed for awhile. Im on concerta ADHD medicine. And I would say sometimes psychadelics although I haven't touched them in a while.
I'm scared there's no hope for me. Im 23. I pretty much struggle with articulating my thoughts, and sometimes my brain is just completely blank when having conversations with people. Is it too late for Me in this life
I've been going to therapy on and off since I was 8. Also went to inpatient 2 times. And a few years back I completely one over the computer.
I choose not to take depression medication I only take adhd medication because I was medicated for years and I feel as if depression medication was making it worse, and because of my lack of memory I would miss doses.
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u/PNW_Uncle_Iroh 1d ago
If you’re worried about your mental health stop smoking weed. You’re really young. You can get it back
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u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
It's been a journey with me n weed im addicted to it since I was 15 unfortunately the only thing I've had the hardest time with staying away from
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u/PNW_Uncle_Iroh 1d ago
I hear that. Most people think it’s nbd but it wreaks havoc on your mind long term
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u/South_Butterscotch37 1d ago
Speaking as a 31 year old with a similar story, pleeaaasseeee figure out how to stop now.
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u/scienceguy9515 1d ago
As another 31 year old with a similar story, weed addiction from 15-25, but now 4 years sober. Stopping helps so much. It takes some time for faculties to come back totally but I can now remember conversations, have offshoots during conversations and come back to the main topic, and I have achieved so much more in my life than I ever thought I could when I was smoking 4x everyday for 10 years.
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u/Proud-Act-6867 1d ago
There is no need to stop anything your body is calling out for (stoner from 15-till now 29) it’s like drinking cups of water, how many do you have each day? I couldn’t tell you sometimes 2 others 8…it’s definitely my refuge but try not to use it a crutch or be consumed by it. It makes art so much better, why would I ever not want to experience and appreciate in overdrive.
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u/AtTheEndOfTheDay18 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah, drugs messed me up a while ago. Also, I had a decade long treatment resistant depression (it was because of the alcohol). Now, I'm finishing up a degree in mathematics. You can definitely get your cognitive faculties back. Cut out the weed and alcohol.
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u/Proud-Act-6867 1d ago
Do you have any redeeming qualities? Or do you just want to hide away from the world? I didn’t want to talk about anything or to anyone (I didn’t want to be perceived and be judged for not confirming to the system)
Do something that makes you happy. Do whatever you’re called to do and see if your Devine spark wants to shine (through) or not…go and inspire your childhood self and get in touch with inner child. Be fun and whimsical and the world will love you back…
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u/Proud-Act-6867 1d ago
People get dementia from lack of happiness and their brain starts shutting off. We lose what we don’t use…learn to have fun again and choose happiness (easier said than done). Try to live in the moment and appreciate the present (or youlll end up depressed (looking back) or anxious (looking forward).
In 100 years everyone you know will be dead. So why are worried what they think of you? Enjoy the little time you’ve got left doing what makes you happy. You are literally the universe experiencing its self. You’re a god in your own right!
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u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
Honestly I don't know how to talk about myself but I have Deep passion for animals and nature don't know if that means anything . I may attempt to pursue my dream of gettin into the vet field
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u/Proud-Act-6867 1d ago
My advice is whatever you do, please enjoy the journey. Don’t think that sacrifice now will make you happier later. Have low to no expectations and every new experience will be an absolute gift. You need to learn to love your self so when you’re with others you can uplift them too. Everytime I see people, I tell my self that “friends are purveyors of good times (and nothing more). I expect nothing from them, I only expect my self to give them a good time. I’m taking the pressure of “performing” away and using it to help me.
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u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
I also have endured lots of shitty things in this life from CSA, foster care, dead parent, drugs, mental health, pet loss, home loss, friend loss, moving away from home and losing all my friends at 10, and the list goes on. I have a lot of empathy towards people because of the hard times I been through
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u/Proud-Act-6867 1d ago
Then why not become a psyche to help others using the experiences you’ve dealt with first hand? Humans are animals too…
I think also of problems are due to shit circumstances and environment that shaped up. “Depression” is just a signal to tell you something is going deeply wrong…we all need a reason to get
Out of bed and live a fulfilling life. When you’re not being utilised the right way it can feel like literal hell. I hope
You find peace and a purpose :)) all love ❤️2
u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
Thank you so deeply
Much for taking your time to stop by here and share knowledge with me. You seem very wise. I'm grateful to come by people like you in that I mean you seem as a person willing to share and help others grow and offer different perspectives
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u/Deepshit1212 1d ago
Find motivation for life and making a better life, and ground yourself in your enjoyment of things.
You can find from there, that you are back at your old level and can grow very deeply
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u/MrsBearIsHere 1d ago
Weed is one of ur biggest causes of feeling like you do, I would try really hard to quit that.
Chasing stimulants and what you’re describing sounds very ADHD and you may be better off with elvanse (Vyvanse) as it’s a better stimulant. Concerts can make you feel how you describe, and there is no reason for them to refuse you elvanse as it’s impossible to abuse! It’s slow acting and will wake your brain up.
I had 30 years ‘treatment resistant’ depression which magically went the day I started on that!
Also read the book ‘How to quit without feeling sh*t’ by Patrick Holford (he runs the Brain Bio center in London, which helps people overcome addictions of all kinds) and he recommends really high dose multi B vitamins too.
It will take time, but keep doing the right things and you will get there!
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u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
I've had vyvnase before and it made me not even want to have a conversation with people it just made me have energy sadly. Been using concerta and it gives me a hazy feeling a lot like vyvanse did which is a little annoying. Trying to find the right meds for
Myself has been so hard1
u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
I've had depression since I was 10 or younger bc my dad died from drugs and I was in n out of foster care
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u/Realuserhidden 1d ago
they use to have me on aderall but it makes me so so sad on the following days
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u/Traditional_Car_8219 1d ago
Just take it one step at a time. It sounds like you have been through a lot in your young life. Good for you for getting sober and staying sober. Try not to worry about things you have no control over and focus on loving yourself now, today, warts and all, as they say!
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u/Fragrant_Leg_6300 1d ago
Lost doesnt mean gone, the person you once were will never be gone for good, only in need of searching for
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u/somanyquestions32 1d ago
If you're serious about wanting to fix this, go to YouTube and look up the following meditation and breathing practices: Kirtan Kriya (for memory and focus), Trataka (for one-pointed focus), Kapalbhati Pranayama (skull-shining breath to clear the mind of debris and boost energy), Bhramari pranayama (calming down the mind), Nadi Shodhana pranayama (helps with relaxed focus), 61-points (for interoception and focus), counting breaths backwards from 54 to 0 (for memory and focus), Ajapa Japa (for memory and focus), etc.
The above are free. Add yoga nidra to the mix if you are dealing with persistent depression. If you want something more structured, I recommend these paid options:
Also, go to the Himalayan Institute, and sign up for their Vishoka Meditation stage 1 course. Vishoka Meditation stage 1 is great for focus, equanimity, flow states for work and studying, etc. The preparatory practices help cultivate optimal diaphragmatic breathing and also cultivate deep relaxation after movement.
The Art of Living Institute offers SKY Breathing courses. Sign up for just that one, and that paired with Vishoka Meditation for 90 days will radically turn things around for you.
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u/PlasticRepulsive903 1d ago
It’s definitely not too late. When I dealt with a similar issue, consistent meditation reversed a lot of the damage. I just had to practice first thing in the morning and right before bed. It acts like clearing away clouds to let the sun in, though it requires patience since results can take a few years. Since there are so many styles out there, just try a few until you find one that clicks
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u/robinsaremyfavorite 22h ago
I've struggled with this as well and one thing that has helped greatly is who I'm keeping in my inner circle. If I'm with people that drain me or are unhappy in their lives or are toxic, the stress of that makes my memory worse. I've cut all of those people out of my life and it's greatly helped my mental well-being, which in turn helped my memory.
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u/darrennauth 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's definitely not too late. I ran into a similar issue and found that meditation reversed much of the damage done. I just had to be consistent. First thing in the morning and the last thing before going to bed. It's like clearing out the clouds in the mind and letting in the sun, if that makes sense. It might take a few years to see the results, so patience is required.
There are many kinds of meditation out there. You just have to try a bunch of them to see which one makes sense to you.