[gaway1989]

Since my first psychotic break... I realize that I can't write like before.

[deeplymorbid]

Originally Posted by gaway1989

Since my first psychotic break... I realize that I can't write like before.

In what way do you feel like you “can’t write like before”?

After my first manic episode, I also found it difficult to write. I was afraid that it was due to something in my brain that had changed or been damaged forever. However, I also have another theory that is more hopeful. When I was psychotic from the mania, I was constantly finding significance in minor details, making new connections between things and ideas (some of which made sense, others not), looking for patterns, and generally believing that there was some greater purpose to the universe (the secret of which I somehow knew, though I couldn’t articulate it)…

Well, my theory is this: having experienced psychosis, I cannot forget the way that it made my brain work. Even now that I am stable, when I read and write, I still find myself doing the same things (i.e., looking for special meanings, connections, etc.). Is this necessarily a bad thing? No, I don’t think so. But it does make writing a lot harder – not necessarily because I am impaired, but because my intellectual/creative expectations for myself are really high.

Anyway, that’s my two cents. What has been your experience?

[Junia]

There are studies from the last twenty years or so that manic and hypomanic episodes cause roughly the same damage as, oh, a high school football concussion. The football concussion will heal in 2-3 months, while the damage from mania takes a couple of yep ears to heal. Another episode within that time interrupts the healing process.

I forgot to grab a link before I came in here, but it's fairly easy to find information by searching "mania and cognitive function" or "mania and executive function." If I find the article I'm thinking of I'll come back and post the link.

[jacky8807]

Same happened to me after my last psychotic break. It took a long time for my mind to heal

[Junia]

I think this is a good article: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/457153

[Victoria'smom]

I use to write well. Now I'n down to short choppy sentences.

[cashart10]

I had a severe episode 3 years ago (the psychosis lasted 8 months) and I feel downright stupid much of the time since. My cognitive functioning has considerately declined. I'm not sure how much if it is still the episode and how much is medication though.

I have this also. I feel my meds make my cognition slow also.

[Junia]

I think it's almost impossible to tell what the cause is. When it's worst it reminds me of that old movie, "flowers for Algernon." Also called "Charlie," I think.

[Tucson]

Originally Posted by Junia

I think it's almost impossible to tell what the cause is. When it's worst it reminds me of that old movie, "flowers for Algernon." Also called "Charlie," I think.

I thought this too about myself. Flowers for Algernon.

[alincdytyourmeds]

I was started on seroquel just after my dx, I definitely noticed a declined in my cognitive abilities, after 3 calls to the pdoc's I got it dc'd and feel much better.

[Junia]

Miguelsmom - short sentences didn't hurt Hemingway. Keep writing. Either your sentences will improve in length (quantity) or in quality.