I can't concentrate on reading, even with my Ritalin. It's incredibly frustrating for me because I'm in love with reading, but can't do it anymore.

I miss being able to read well. I blame my meds for making my head so foggy, especially that Lamictal. I'm on eight meds. Too much.

Maybe there's hope out there. I don't know. I have a bunch of used books that I bought within the past year, hoping that those books would give me an excuse to try, but the idea was an utter failure.

[*Laurie*]

I'm so sorry, blue. I'm a reader and fear not being able to read.

I'm in favor of meds if they help, but I have to say that 8 meds does sound possibly excessive. What do you think? Any chance of dropping some of them?

Btw, I just noticed that you live in Boston. That's a city I so want to visit. Boston and Concord, so I can visit the Alcott house (Orchard House).

[FruitLoops]

I completely understand what you are going through. I was once a reader. I accumulated around 500 books and now they are useless to me. I won't get rid of them in hopes I can focus long enough to get through one book. Best of luck to you!

[GoldenSnitch]

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It sounds so frustrating. I hope that one day you are able to enjoy reading again. Big hugs!

[Nammu]

I've gone though periods like that but then I'm able to return to reading. I also go though periods where I can't focus on serious novels or non fiction and read mostly cozy books. Keep your books I have faith your ability to read will return.

[raspberrytorte]

I feel the same as you, blue. I used to read, on average, a book a day. Now I can't even make it through a few paragraphs of a book without my head hurting.

Ugh, I was just telling my therapist that I can’t focus on reading.

I can’t read the long posts some make on this site, even.

[Cocosurviving]

I use to love reading as well. Two months ago I bought a book. I told myself I was going to try again. So far I’m on chapter seven.

[Slightlydelusional]

Im sorry your having this issue, I can relate. I used to be a huge reader, but now even getting a few pages down is hard, but trying as love so much.

[laracroft3]

Same here. I've been trying to get through a few books since the start of the year with not much success. I had a goal of reading 35 books this year and only read 7. It's really hard to concentrate. I can read a few pages and then I have to go back repeatedly because none of it made any sense.

[Sunflower123]

Reading is a great love of mine and I usually read between 3-5 books a week (I have 1,200+ on my kindle and many more paperback and hardback). I go in and out of reading phases with my illness and I miss it when I’m not able to enjoy reading.

I hope you can get back to a place where you can read again.

[Woolly Bugger]

If this is the worst of your worries, you're doing well. Try some audio books.

[scatterbrained04]

I'm having that problem too. I love to read but frequently have a difficult time with that.

[Teddy Bear]

I think you're on too many meds to focus. I agree with Jennifer can you see if you can cut down the amount of meds you take?

[bioChE]

Broken concentration is a bullshlt fact of life with bipolar medications. If you ever find a combo that lets you get further than Chapter 1, let me know.

And I️ don’t necessarily buy the fact it’s the number of meds. I’m on 2. And still deal with the same.

[BipolaRNurse]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I can't concentrate on reading, even with my Ritalin. It's incredibly frustrating for me because I'm in love with reading, but can't do it anymore.

I miss being able to read well. I blame my meds for making my head so foggy, especially that Lamictal. I'm on eight meds. Too much.

Maybe there's hope out there. I don't know. I have a bunch of used books that I bought within the past year, hoping that those books would give me an excuse to try, but the idea was an utter failure.

THIS.^^

I get so frustrated with myself for being unable to digest more than a magazine or newspaper article. I used to be a voracious reader, and now I can't even get to the end of a chapter without forgetting what the first part was about. There doesn't seem to be a lot I can do about it either.

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

I'm so sorry, blue. I'm a reader and fear not being able to read.

I'm in favor of meds if they help, but I have to say that 8 meds does sound possibly excessive. What do you think? Any chance of dropping some of them?

Btw, I just noticed that you live in Boston. That's a city I so want to visit. Boston and Concord, so I can visit the Alcott house (Orchard House).

Lexapro
Lamictal
Ritalin
Rexulti
Klonopin
Lipitor
Dymista
Protonix

Nope Klonipin is the only PRN, so I try to stay away from it.

Boston is nice, but not so much in the winter. Poor snow plowing, ice lakes at every crosswalk, very windy, and frigid since it's on the ocean. I would recommend waiting until May.

Never been to Lexington or Concord. Only driven through them for work. Been to Salem plenty of times though (public transportation can get you there from Boston), and that's nice too. I'm just sick of it because we had 4 school field trips there. And Boston Museum of Science I've been to 6 times, so I'm bored of that, but that's a good place to see as well.

[WildcatVet]

Was just able to start reading again..! OMG...I'm so glad to be back on lithium and Abilify...!