Okay, first I guess I should give all the relevant information.

I am 29, and have been diagnosed with ADD since I was about 7. When I was 3 months old I had a head injury (hit in the right side of my head 3 times by a ceiling fan on high). I have always had problems with social anxiety, which I have managed to somewhat cope with after nearly 30 years of trying.

I have always had a high IQ, (169 several years ago) and have always been able to learn just about anything much faster than anyone I know, much faster than average.

Over the last several years I have noticed a steady decline in my ability to understand things, study, remember things, and communicate with people. I have been having symptoms that look disturbingly like... central auditory processing disorder, temporal lobe epilepsy, and maybe even early onset dementia. I do the research, and I am by no means a hypochondriac, but I just can't figure it out.

Any background noise prevents me from understanding the speech of others, sometimes rendering their words into garbled nonsense. I am able to deal with major upsets in my life with little problem, but small annoyances set my brain on fire (irritation, anxiety, anger, over-reaction). I find it exceedingly and increasingly harder to pay attention to things, even if I have a high level of interest in them, almost like the harder I try the more my brain actively fights against any form of focus or retention. I can remember almost every word of every conversation I have ever had, but major things that are happening now, like where did I put something, did I do that thing yet, or have I eaten yet, are disappearing faster and faster.

I feel like I am losing everything that I have to define myself and I don't know what to do.

I plan on going to a neurologist as soon as I have the insurance and the time, but I was just wondering if anyone had any idea what this could be.

Hello and welcome to the NeuroTalk Support Groups.

I'm sorry that you're having such a difficult time. A number of issues you have mentioned in your post stand out to me.

ADD, Social Anxiety (managed to somewhat cope with after nearly 30 years), High IQ, noise sensitivity, irritation and anger etc..

I'm just going to throw out a few questions if you don't mind...

Do you take medications for your ADD or Anxiety?

Lots has changed since you were diagnosed when you were 7. Do you still see a Psychologist or anyone regarding your ADD and social anxiety? I guess you saw one a few years back for the testing (IQ etc)? You were never diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome?

What is your B12 level do you know?

I was on various adhd meds when I was younger, some better than others, then stopped taking them until I was 25, then I goit back on them, and they helped for a while, but after switching them out a few times and doctors trying to dial in the dosage I am seeing the efficacy to drop more and more.

I can't really take anything for anxiety, the doctors only want to prescribe anti-depressants, and I suffer from activation syndrome. 20 days into anti depressants and I kind of lose my mind.

Plus I don't think that I would have aspergers, I am highly empathic, not sensitive to physical interaction...(well, not really), and I have know a few adults with aspergers, and I don't... I don't act like them. I understand subtle nuances in conversation, I get sarcasm and all that. I am good at rhetoric.

Thanks for your answers.

Please try not to think of the worst case situations such as Dementia. You should talk to your doctor. There may be a much more simple explanation for your recent cognitive difficulties and that may be something that can be sorted out.

I'm sorry you experience difficulties with medications. There are alternatives to medications that some people find very helpful.

My daughter had a terrible time with brain fog lasting years. She has some similar conditions as you have mentioned. It was found that her B12 was dangerously low although that had been ignored by doctors for years. She's doing much better now but it has taken some time. She doesn't like to take medications at all but finally gave in when things became overwhelming for her while trying to study and she's taking Lexapro for a few months now and it has helped her anxiety levels very much indeed. She also has had cognitive behaviour therapy for that and uses several other helpful techniques involving relaxation on a daily basis. She certainly feels as if her cognitive issues are much better and she can really concentrate again now as well because she seems a lot less overwhelmed by external stimuli.

If you ever need it, there is an
Anxiety Forum here at NeuroTalk.

take care there.

[btw. Regarding "empathy" - That's a bit of a myth really although it depends on the individual.]