[CherryGlazer]

2 years ago It was constant for me to get lost on my way to places I knew. I forgot entire conversations, people's birthdays, I forgot things I learned in class, I missed appointments.

In regards to school, at it's worst, I was only taking 2 courses per semester and they were both in the same building, same floor. I couldn't remember what floor they were both on for the entirety of it and I had to always carry written down directions. There were only four. And inevitably I'd lose my notes and just wander between floors crying and trying to remember.

Ever since I started seroquel and lamictal 2 years ago I had a sharp rise in my ability to remember things, and over the long term this has only gotten better.

I don't have any problems anymore. I constantly feel surprised by what my brain can do.

I just started work this summer, and from the get go, I remember passwords and emails and links and detailed instructions and deliverable dates. No matter how chaotic it is, I know what I'm supposed to do, by order and date/time, included when some massive new thing is dropped on me. Somehow in all of thins I can still keep track of personal stuff: birthdays, appointments, plans. I don't even need to write anything down (still do), it's like all in my head, like some kind of virtual calendar that I can flip through and depend on.

Sorry this has been long, and thank you if you have kept reading. I am wondering what the meds I take are doing to my brain in terms of cognitive improvement.

I heard that lithium restores grey matter loss, but can't find anything like that on Seroquel + Lamictal. Is it just episode prevention that has allowed my brain to heal? Or something more?

[Sometimes psychotic]

This is really interesting because a lot of us blame cognitive decline on the meds, antipsychotics especially.....wonder if it's the lamictal?

When I was put on Lamictal, for the first 4 months I was as you described. I couldn't follow a simple conversation. I had to rely on constant questions and for apologetic "Can you repeat that?" Mood stabilizers can do that. It's very typical. I have a high protein diet along with omega3 with high DHA which is good for the cerebral cortex and also a good multivitamin. My brain found a way to adapt somehow and I can think as clearly as I ever could now. By the way, I am also on Geodon, an atypical antipsychotic which have shown evidence that suggests, like other anti psychotics, shrink gray matter. A low dose is best.

[UpDownAround]

I have been on lamictal about 2 months. I have had expansive hypomania for over a month. I didn't even know it was a thing before. It's very real; now I know about it and I still can't shut up. I sometimes joke about taking a Sharpie and writing STFU on both my palms every morning when I am hypomanic, but usually it's because of the incomplete sentences and arrogance. I keep outing myself to people who don't need to know about my MH. Coming clean and sober by outing myself to docs and family is a positive thing, or at least it seems that way now. Anyway, I think I have been thinking clearly but it is too early to tell if this is a real change or just an episode.