Has anyone experienced drawn blanks?
Meaning you be talking to someone and you drawn blank for seconds and forget what you were gonna say or what you were talking about.
Or when having a conversation and then I pause and forget what Ineas saying or say some thing random or irrelevant.
So for example I saw a pocile man by supermarket shop and I said to my partner there pocile there, and I said my boss. And my partner said boss? I said "I mean Bruce" which is my cousin who is pocile man.

Has anyone experienced this or know what's going on?

[Skeezyks]

Oh yes this is familiar to me. Mostly what has happened with me is that I'd get into the middle of a conversation & simply go blank. Suddenly there would seem to be nothing in my brain at all. And I'd have to quickly regroup & try to figure out what we were talking about & what to say next. These episodes would invariably be accompanied by a surge of anxiety that I would have to stifle. I often would wonder if the person or persons I was talking to sensed something was going on with me (embarrassing!)

I've also had problems with racing thoughts in the past. I'd think of something to say in the midst of a conversation &, before I could say it, I'd already have thought of some reason why what I was going to say was wrong or not appropriate & I'd be trying to come up with a different response. In the end, I'd often just end up saying nothing. I've always presumed these kinds of problems were related to anxiety. I don't really have problems such as these anymore though since I seldom leave home.

Yes, it's very common. Just a drift in your attention. There are ways to improve your attention if you're concerned. But what you describe is natural. Our brains can't have 100% focus all of the time. We naturally get distracted sometimes.

I draw blanks and lose focus in conversation every single day. I have worried about it too about myself, and beat myself up over it, but I think it's best to just be kind to myself about it. I don't know what it is but I know some of it is brought on by anxiety. It happens to me a lot in my therapy group. I've also had the tip of tongue issue, where I'll literally forget a noun, for instance, I'll say "I put it on the thing," instead of "I put it on the couch." Because my mind is deciding to be an a-hole and wants me to temporarily not know certain words in conversation. It's really strange phenomenon. That often happens when I am talking to someone who talks faster than me, and I feel pressured by them to "Spit it out," so to speak. I have come to realize though, that I do not have to talk as fast as others. I have a right to process and think at my own speed.

SilverTrees, that's interesting you speak of ways to improve focus. I am sure there are. I do wonder if some of my focus issues have to do with internet usage. I have heard that using the internet a lot can be a cause of focus issues, sort of like ADD.

Skeezyks, I can relate to your post too.

I think the important thing to remember, TeaFruit, is to be nice to yourself.

Originally Posted by SilverTrees

Yes, it's very common. Just a drift in your attention. There are ways to improve your attention if you're concerned. But what you describe is natural. Our brains can't have 100% focus all of the time. We naturally get distracted sometimes.

Well.just been happening more often and my partner and family members have notice this.

Originally Posted by TeaFruit

Well.just been happening more often and my partner and family members have notice this.

You can ask your doctor for a referral to a neuropsychologist or speech language pathologist for cognitive testing. If there is a deficit in your attention or memory, you can participate in cognitive therapy provided it is deemed medically warranted. I don't know if you are taking any meds. If so, check with your pharmacist if this could be a side effect. Pharmacists know a lot of things about drugs which doctors do not.

And yes, as others said, an increase in anxiety can certainly (temporarily) affect cognitive function. Your mind can't focus on the worries and the words all at once if you see what I mean. So ameliorating the anxiety would likely help.

Try not to worry too much because you know what that does to focus and memory

[sarahsweets]

Do you take any psychiatric medications? I noticed that since I've been on medication that happens more often. I wouldn't say frequently but it does happen. Sometimes I get tongue-tied other times anxiety but a lot of times it just feels like I can't help it.

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Do you take any psychiatric medications? I noticed that since I've been on medication that happens more often. I wouldn't say frequently but it does happen. Sometimes I get tongue-tied other times anxiety but a lot of times it just feels like I can't help it.

Yeah I'm on meds but I have been on them for years. So...I dont think it's that.

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

Do you take any psychiatric medications? I noticed that since I've been on medication that happens more often. I wouldn't say frequently but it does happen. Sometimes I get tongue-tied other times anxiety but a lot of times it just feels like I can't help it.

That's a good point.

[healingme4me]

How many times have I or others in my circle lost a train of thought? Let me count the ways.

Stress, exhaustion, distractions...

[Spiderhamis]

I usually go blank before I can even start talking, strangers find it odd. Sometimes in a shop people first ask me a question in finnish, then in swedish or english. And I just stare. It's embarrassing!
My mom has patience with me when I go blank in the middle of my talking. She just stands there, says ''Go on'' or ''You can tell'', and waits. She's so lovely <3

I think it's about not being able to focus which can be caused by things like stress and tiredness.... But I think you can always say (and many people do) ''I forgot what I was saying.'' Many people will wait when you gather your thoughts or they will tell you what you just said and it can help. It helps my cousin every time.