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DukeGallison
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01 Aug 2011, 6:06 pm

In recent months I've found myself to be totally unable to enjoy or be engaged in any book I've read. The series I've read recently include the Dune, Discworld, and Song of Fire and Ice series. I don't know if it's me, my medications, me being attention-deficit, or the writing style of the authors, I find myself to be unable to summarize what I just read and have to look up a plot synopsis online. The last books I really enjoyed were the Sword of Truth books and Dan Brown's works. I fear my reading skills might have gone down the tube. Has anyone experienced something similar?



cornelius6
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01 Aug 2011, 6:28 pm

Hmm. Well, when I'm very depressed I find I can't read anything for more than 10 minutes before feeling really tired.
What kind of medication do you take?
They could have a huge effect on your processing power,
when I was on anti-depressants and/or mood stabilizers
I felt I could not concentrate on anything, that my memory was total crap
and had this constant mind fog.
Hell I feel like that now and I'm on nothing.
I read only 10 minutes a day just about. When I'm constipated maybe 20.
I used to read 3 to 16 hours a day before.


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DukeGallison
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01 Aug 2011, 6:36 pm

Right now I'm on Prozac, Zyprexa, and Lorezapam.



cornelius6
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01 Aug 2011, 6:45 pm

I would not look any further than that.
Occam's razor.
The Lorazepam is a CNS depressant, and a powerful one, so it makes it harder to concentrate, it also has strong amnesic properties, that means you will have a much harder time forming stable long term memories.
The Zyprexa and the Prozac will mess with your dopamine and serotonin receptors, making strong emotions almost impossible, and memory retention is strongly linked with emotional arousal. Concentration and enjoyment will also be real hard.
That cocktail of drugs is really stacking the deck against you.


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DukeGallison
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01 Aug 2011, 6:54 pm

Thanks, I'll ask my doctors about it next time I see them. I still have an intact long-term memory, but I do feel my short-term memory's somewhat on the fritz.



Franma
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01 Aug 2011, 7:02 pm

I've enjoyed everything that Anne McCaffrey has written and spent many an absorbed hour in Pern with the dragons and their companions. It has been my escape many a time from this world. Maybe you will like it. I enjoy all Dan Brown too.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=sr_ ... B000ARA0JO

I get that feeling of not remembering what I just read without meds, just from regular stress. I think my brain just shuts off when it can't take anymore, kinda to protect me from thinking myself into an abyss.


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DukeGallison
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01 Aug 2011, 7:16 pm

I've read Anne McCaffrey's works and have found the Pern books to be decent. The thing is, there are some books that I've had trouble getting engaged in even before my current meds, such as Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time books.



BillyIdolFan217
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01 Aug 2011, 8:08 pm

I really don`t like to read! I have a very short attention span when it comes to reading!


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Franma
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01 Aug 2011, 8:09 pm

I have found that sometimes I just can't read certain books or series at one point in my life that I can pick up another time and read with no problem. I haven't managed the Wheel of Time series yet. I get kind of a dark feeling from reading that series and I'm looking mostly for escape.

Have you read Stephen R Donaldson Thomas Covenant series, Katherine Kurtz - Deryni series, Terry Brooks - Shannara series? Those are some more old favorites of mine. I lean heavily towards epic fantasy in case you can't tell :)


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DukeGallison
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01 Aug 2011, 8:16 pm

I haven't read those series but I will definitely give Shannara a look.