Brain Exercises

[BilliGoatsGruff (Billi)]

I feel like I'm using this forum as an advice column for lonely housewives, but I promise that's not the case!

I've always been the "smart" one and I've never had issues learning new things. I did well in school, but left early due to distractions *ahem* boys *ahem*, so I guess that makes me not so smart.
My problem now is that my brain seems less absorbant and I have a hard time concentrating and "taking things in". I'm currently doing a minor certificate in horticulture and a unit that should only take a week to complete has taken almost a month. That's partly to do with family commitments, but mainly because I get so confused I have to walk away before it ends up with my books burned to a pile of ashes. I've read the information at least ten times but still can't seem to remember anything. It's the same with any general information. I've listened to the same podcast three times this past week but have only managed to learn the proper way to say the name of a star that I've now forgotten.
Is there anything I can do to help condition my brain and bring back some storage space for information? I'm only 23, this isn't supposed to happen to somebody at my age
And I think the star was Aldebaran.

[Atmos (Colin)]

It is largely just about keeping the mind active. Reading books, crosswords, sudoku; problem solving! Get into astrophotographery, there are enough issues to crop up to keep your mind active for a lifetime
On a more practical note, I have always enjoyed Lumosity.

[deanm (Dean)]

You need to see your GP & get tests involving relevant (eg. TH) hormone levels, metabolic markers and a complete blood picture (CBP) conducted.

At 23 (as you recognise), you are far too young to be experiencing the debilitations you describe.

Dean

[MattT]

Do you have young children? That'd explain it.

[BilliGoatsGruff (Billi)]

Originally Posted by MattT

Do you have young children? That'd explain it.

Haha yes I do. 6 and 2. I blame being a parent for most of it, but I don't think it's really fair

I downloaded Lumosity. Those little trains are so fast!

I don't think I've had a doctors appointment for myself (apart from antenatal) for at least seven years, so I'm probably due for one. Being raised in a family who doesn't get "sick", there's never really been a need. I'm always too busy chasing everyone else's appointments.

[ross-boughen]

Might sound a bit far fetched but i have had considerable success with binaural beats. Really amped up concentration and memory retention after a few days but that said it works differently for each person. Something to consider.

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

when i went back to Tech some 18 years ago, we were given a 26 letter student card to use to access the computers
for the life of me i could not remember that many numbers and had to get my card out every time and read 4 numbers at a time
UNTIL
someone put me on to "Brahmi Capsules"

within 3 weeks i could remember all 26 numbers

made 2 years of study a lot easier for a 50+ old man

geoff

[rustigsmed (Russell)]

Originally Posted by deanm

You need to see your GP & get tests involving relevant (eg. TH) hormone levels, metabolic markers and a complete blood picture (CBP) conducted.

At 23 (as you recognise), you are far too young to be experiencing the debilitations you describe.

Dean

+1

a quick trip to the gp and some follow up tests are well worth making the time for.

[xelasnave]

The brain should be a manufacturing plant not a warehouse.

Alex

[xelasnave]

The brain should be a manufacturing plant not a warehouse.

Alex

[xelasnave]

I forgot I had already posted that idea.
Alex

[guipago (Geoff)]

Sounds a lot like too much stress, 2 kids, certificates, keeping everyone in line & on target & all the stuff you can't say will fry your brain & then you try & load the brain up even more! See the doctor & get checked out, having said that I'm against taking pills to cover a stress problem as what's causing the stress is still there, maybe slow stuff down a bit, I dealt with my stress problem by leaving a well paid job, couldn't be happier!

[Atmos (Colin)]

On that note, you should be starting "The List" now

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=145160

The most important question that is still yet to be asked. Are you getting enough sleep?

[BilliGoatsGruff (Billi)]

Originally Posted by Atmos

On that note, you should be starting "The List" now

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=145160

The most important question that is still yet to be asked. Are you getting enough sleep?

Hahaha is that list for me or my partner? I don't think he'd be happy to come home from work and have a list of chores.
Sleep? What's that? I do a lot better than most mums with kids under the age of three. Normally from 9pm until 2am I get a solid period of rest, then miss 2y/o comes into our bed and makes sleep almost impossible.

Originally Posted by guipago

Sounds a lot like too much stress, 2 kids, certificates, keeping everyone in line & on target & all the stuff you can't say will fry your brain & then you try & load the brain up even more! See the doctor & get checked out, having said that I'm against taking pills to cover a stress problem as what's causing the stress is still there, maybe slow stuff down a bit, I dealt with my stress problem by leaving a well paid job, couldn't be happier!

I don't work, except an hour Mondays and Fridays, so I can cut that from the list of things to stress less about.
The idea of burning the house down has crossed my mind multiple times except I don't think the landlord would agree.
On a more serious note, I'm against any form of medication unless it's absolutely necessary. It always irritates me when people decide to go with the quick fix meds, instead of addressing the real problem, making time for exercise and eating better. I'm no poster girl as my exercise routine and eating have gone a bit downhill, but it definitely improves your mental and physical wellbeing.

Originally Posted by xelasnave

I forgot I had already posted that idea.
Alex

Haha! Maybe you need some Lumosity in your life?

[The_bluester (Paul)]

Sleep was my first thought.

My young fella is nearly 8 years old and between him and a job that can be pretty high stress I rarely sleep as well as I should and would like to, that and lack of work that I find really interesting has really IMO taken the edge off me brain wise.

I picked an expensive way to get into brain training. $7,000 worth of electronics for my race car, all of which are highly configurable (Which I am doing myself) which requires a good head for logic functions (I am an ex technician so logic stuff is second nature to me, even if it has been buried under fifteen years of project management work)

I find doing the geek stuff relaxing and interesting and working it all out virtually without documentation has been easier for me than the project management diploma I did last year!

[OzStarGazer]

Originally Posted by ross-boughen

Might sound a bit far fetched but i have had considerable success with binaural beats. Really amped up concentration and memory retention after a few days but that said it works differently for each person. Something to consider.

I have used them too and found them useful too, although sometimes I have to wonder if I am convincing myself that they help me. My doc totally dismissed them, but I still find them useful. I also use them for my insomnia for example. Actually "mainly" for my insomnia.

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by Atmos

On a more practical note, I have always enjoyed Lumosity.

They got into a little strife with the US FTC over some of their marketing claims and practices.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/pres...tising-charges

[ross-boughen]

Originally Posted by OzStarGazer

I have used them too and found them useful too, although sometimes I have to wonder if I am convincing myself that they help me. My doc totally dismissed them, but I still find them useful. I also use them for my insomnia for example. Actually "mainly" for my insomnia.

They say that as they dont make money of it insomnia was the reason i got into them, but in saying that even if it is a placebo effect its still damn better than meds in my opinion

[iborg (Philip)]

Something that I sometimes found useful at Uni was to write out a list of things that were to be remembered, then again and again and again - repeat as necessary!

The lists I created were just short dot point type of things, but, the prompt helped me to remember what it was that I needed to understand.

Good luck.

Philip

[xelasnave]

Address your self talk.
I changed from saying my memory is getting worse to ..Now I remember I really have a great memory.
In my opinion my approach really did work.
Our mind may well want to please us by delivering who we want to be.
For years I have said to myself..your hair is getting blacker...I am 70 next birthday and still have black hair..my beard is grey however.
So even if it is a lie tell yourself you are getting better ...just remember that

Alex