Signs of brain damage

[lkjhgfdsa1]

Ever since my great mental breakdown (the big first one which made me suicidal) a couple months ago and me starting to abuse my sleeping medications (bc I cannot sleep) and sometimes attempted at CTB, I start to feel like I have given myself brain damage.

The four big signs to me are:
1. Extreme brain fog
2. Cannot switch easily between languages anymore (I am trilingual). I can only think of the word in one language while I am speaking the other and get super confused *
3. Mix up spelling/sound of words as if I am dyslexic (which I was not)
4. Amnesia about things I did/said after taking meds

Does anyone experience similar signs? I feel like I have gone down a bad path…


* I think it is normal to some extent but it has gotten extreme compared to the past

 

[card1nal]

I experienced similar symptoms (other than switching between languages), which I feared were because I started hitting myself in the head as a form of self-harm. I've since realized that the majority of the symptoms were likely not linked to my brain being damaged but were from the stress of everything I was going through and what I was putting my body through. Once I started getting medicated for mental health struggles (which caused a large part of my daily stress), a lot of the same symptoms you are having subsided or at least got mostly better.

If brain damage is something you are worried about, and you can, I recommend seeing a doctor! A lot of your symptoms could be attributed to other issues; however, if you do have brain damage, not doing anything could seriously impair your quality of life from here on out. Seeing doctors sucks, but living that way sucks even more in my experience.

 

[Praestat_Mori]

I think you should consider visiting a doc and have that tested.

 

[lostintheloop]

I agree with others about talking to dr. Medications and mental illness can both affect cognitive functions without physical permanent damage . So whilst you may have affected your brain function, it could be tenporary and not structural damage.

 

[KillingPain267]

Ever since my great mental breakdown (the big first one which made me suicidal) a couple months ago and me starting to abuse my sleeping medications (bc I cannot sleep) and sometimes attempted at CTB, I start to feel like I have given myself brain damage.

Whoa, this is way too relatable, lol. I just bought 130 sleeping pills from two street dealers to stockpile for bad nights, because I've just had it with being awake in thoughts until 4am every night. Doctors don't even give a shit.

Brain damage: To me, I feel like I got brain damage in that things like gore don't even disturb me like before. I used to freak out before, when I accidentally saw gore videos, and told myself "it's probably fake, it's probably fake!" for days. Now I watch it when I'm bored. I feel less empathetic, although I intellectually would never hurt anyone and am a pacifist.

 

[Cinnamorolls]

Well, all these things can also just be regular side effects from the sleep meds. I've had all the same issues since I started taking Ambien and they start fading if I manage to go some time without taking it. But you could always have a MRI done to check just in case.

 

[LastFlowers]

I experienced similar symptoms (other than switching between languages), which I feared were because I started hitting myself in the head as a form of self-harm. I've since realized that the majority of the symptoms were likely not linked to my brain being damaged but were from the stress of everything I was going through and what I was putting my body through. Once I started getting medicated for mental health struggles (which caused a large part of my daily stress), a lot of the same symptoms you are having subsided or at least got mostly better.

If brain damage is something you are worried about, and you can, I recommend seeing a doctor! A lot of your symptoms could be attributed to other issues; however, if you do have brain damage, not doing anything could seriously impair your quality of life from here on out. Seeing doctors sucks, but living that way sucks even more in my experience.

What medications? Psych meds?
Because those are also known to cause brain damage..(though hitting oneself in the head is certainly not advisable either, I understand the stress response and sympathize).

 

[elvvsie]

this sounds like side effects of the meds to me but maybe go get checked out? you never know