Re: Chuck- excitement affecting adrenals, affecting memoryOT

[Guest guest]

Hi Chuck,

Thank you for your insight. So it's possible I have math anxiety without

actually feeling anxious? It's the physiological aspect that makes my my

short-term memory shut down? This happens all the time, and it makes me crazy.

The only help the school can offer me is a tutor; however, after speaking with

the head of psych dept. today (the man who did my psych eval), I have a little

hope.

He suggested I see a psychologist here in town whose speciality is math. She

actually used to be a math teacher, but she now works as a licensed clinical

psychologist.

I'm sure she will be able to teach me the techniques you were referring to. He

said she can work with me and actually see at what point my cognitive functions

are failing me and give me ideas on how to regain them.

It sounds promising.

Interesting you mentioned even low levels of excitement can even affect my

abilities. One thing you may or may not have picked up about me is I'm pretty

much excited or aroused all the time. Now, PLEASE guys, I don't mean SEXUALLY

aroused, okay!!!

I'm just the kind of person who, when not affected by this crazy disease, is

very high-spirited and gets high on life.

Intellectual stimulation is SO exciting. Learning is freakin' fantastic!! When

the lightbulb gets turned on in my brain, I'm like flyin'!!! I get so excited

when I reach the point of understanding a mathematical concept.

I was walking last week seeing the world as word problems and trying to

visualize the formulas in my head.

When we were learning about slopes last week, I couldn't stop checking out roofs

and thinking about how something so simple was right about my head!

I get excited when I look at the sky and am in awe of the beauty around me. I

get excited/aroused when I smell wood or go by a construction site. Ever since I

was a little girl I secretly wanted to be a construction worker, do masonry, be

a carpenter, etc. A house going up, and the smells associated with that, are so

powerful and my senses are heightened.

Thinking about things excites me. Metaphysics is my favorite subject of all time

because it evokes so much joy in me I just feel like I could explode!!!

And Chuck, I just think it's SO cool you're a physics teacher. I love physics

and want so much to grasp the ideas. I have read many books about physics,

quantum theory, string theory, etc. One book I read 4 times, hoping desperately

that the lightbulb would go off and my mind would explode in understanding. I

understand enough to find it fascinating but not enough to immerse myself in it.

Anyway, I'm a very excitable person. The worst part of this disease has been how

it has dulled my senses, slowed my cognitive processes and memory, and how it

has suppressed my excitement for life. Armour has helped a lot, but I'm not back

to where I used to be.

This psychologist told me I clearly have ADHD; however, he believes it's

possible that it may be a result of my thyroid problems. I've never had these

kind of memory problems (except for math). The ADHD symptoms I've had have never

hindered me too much until now.

I do feel like my brain and senses become overloaded sometimes, but it's a good

thing, you know. It's so exciting. It's hard to articulate what a rush it is.

I've never done any drugs or even smoked a cigarette. I don't know what it means

to get high since I " ve never experienced it, but WOW, I think it must be like

some kind of high.

OMG, I have just gone on and on...sorry! Anyway, if even low levels of

excitement can start trigger this physiological process, then my adrenals must

be working overtime??

This psychologist told me I should consider taking medication to see if it will

help me concentrate better and help restore my short-term memory. He assured me

that taking speed will slow me down. He said they have some new drugs, other

than Ritalin, that I might want to try. He said so many people have said it has

made such a difference for them. Wonder if it might counter-act the brain fog

associated with hypoT? Something for me to explore...

It might help me so I will consider it. It might help me concentrate more and

help me grasp these mathematical concepts.

It sounds like your school is very geared toward helping its students. That's

awesome!

Here's one of my favorite websites:

http://www.mkaku.org/

I love his books and articles!!! He writes in such a way that explains all these

complicated things in simpler terms. I love this essay called, " A Carp, A Pond,

and Hyperspace. " I used to read Carl Sagun a lot...Anyway, when I read Kaku's

stuff, it just excites me so much, and the lightbulb comes on...more like

flickers!!! When it flickers I want more...you know!! I do want the light and

energy to disappear because it's so fascinating! I want so much to take a

physics class, but I've always felt like the math part would really hinder me.

I was really getting into his books right before being run over with HypoT

symptoms. I've wanted to join the forum on that website and participate in

discussions, but brain fog issues have kept me away.

Anyway, Chuck, (and everyone else) sorry for rambling. Thanks again! You are so

lucky to have a mind that comprehends physics!!!

Take care, Sheila

Chuck Blatchley <cblatchl@...> wrote:

Sheila,

You wrote:

> ... I'm pretty sure I bombed my algebra test. An

> hour before the test I just blanked out and forgot everything. ...

That is typical of the autonomic response we call Math Anxiety, whether

you experience it as anxiousness or not. Those same stress hormones from

the adrenals, that we discuss so much here, cause certain parts of the

brain to shut down in preparation for " fight or flight. " The short term

memory functions that you need to grasp math problems, to translate word

problems into equations, to form mental images of abstractions, and to

manipulate them in your head are particularly vulnerable and can be

adversely affected by even relatively low level excitement. And, I am

sure it is aggravated by hypothyroid brain fog.

The good news is that they have developed techniques you can learn that

lessen the impact of stress on math related cognitive functions. They

mainly take practice. Many math and psychology departments have programs

to work with people afflicted with this condition. Please ask around and

see if you can find one.

Another common problem, largely unrecognized until recently, is

presentation anxiety, a mental paralysis caused by having to speak in

front of a crowd. This goes beyond butterflies and " I'd rather get a

root canal " reactions. Our communications department has a similar

program of exercises for them.

Best of luck,

Chuck B.

[Guest guest]

Shiela,

As far as I know, the most effective approach to ADHD is medication and

compensation. Over the years we have had several ADHD students go into

technical areas with pharmacological assistance. Just not into physics

.... yet ... that I know of. We have a special needs office in the

College of Education that coaches them. I have worked with dyslexic

physics majors, though.

For the phobic reactions right before tests, I think the main techniques

I have heard about sound like a combination of Zen meditation,

relaxation, and visualization. I don't think these work as well with the

ADHD, so you may need both.

The objective is to get you in the same frame of mind as when you are

studying rather than when testing. In that centered " place " and focussed

frame of mind, you don't have the adrenal reaction, effectively

pretending you are not taking a test, just practicing. In the really

successful cases, testing actually becomes fun rather than a horror.

I have seen students practicing breathing exercises during tests with

their eyes closed, when a problem had them against the wall. It's a

similar operating principle to Lamaze for childbirth, except there the

target is other aspects of the adrenal response than suppressed math

abilities. I have known actors and musicians who use similar exercises

to get them over " stage fright. "

Again, it's very " Zen. " Detach from the consequences. Think of it as a

game and focus on the play aspects, rather than competition or outcome.

With practice, you can quickly get to that state and stay there during a

test. If you like metaphysics, this may be the approach for you.

Best of luck,

Chuck

[Guest guest]

I respectfully disagree, and think the very popular ADHD meds might really

be contraindicated for a person with history of eating disorders. First

Sheila needs to get adequate thyroid/adrenal treatment, since this may be

the cause of ADHD in the first place.

Gracia

> Shiela,

>

> As far as I know, the most effective approach to ADHD is medication and

> compensation. Over the years we have had several ADHD students go into

> technical areas with pharmacological assistance.

[Guest guest]

Gracia wrote:

> I respectfully disagree, and think the very popular ADHD meds might really

> be contraindicated for a person with history of eating disorders. ...

That is probably quite true for Ritalin and other stimulants, but today

they are using antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and neuroleptics as well.

Chuck