Do you ever fear that you have lost your intellectual edge?

Post Reply New Topic

I am past fear. I know that age (74 years) has taken its toll on my intellect.

ruveyn

I have always had trouble with this. However as a child I had a period where I was a very driven overachiever. But I hot worn down and now don't even bother trying to live in the land of abstraction because I'm best suited to something different.

My biggest fear in life is that I would lose my intellectual edge. Than, i would be stuck back in a group home and disabled programs for ret*d people being looked down on and bossed around, being treated like an ingrate. It is my intellectual edge that make everyone like me and respect me as a person. I too am obsess with school, perfect grades, and even over-study, while ignoring my family and friends. I was always like this even as a child. I am even having health problems really bad, but fear missing school because I will become behind and get bad grades. School and success have become my life. But, lately, I have learned to relax a little. I study when I need to, and when I am not studying, I try to go out,when I feel okay, and do fun activities that I enjoy, like going for a tea at a starbucks. If I do not feel well, I rest. i had to make myself imagery cards to get myself to relax and not be overly obsess. If I fail or get below a B- on something, I start thinking that I am dumb, and even start to think that I will be treated like crap from everyone, especially in the past year when i showed everyone that I am a capable person.

It sounds like you are under a lot of stress.

I don't know if it would be feasible or helpful to take some kind of break, give yourself some down time to regain your strength and regroup your thoughts? Sometimes we are our own worst taskmasters, and we won't give ourselves the breaks that we need and that we would give to someone else. (You describe other issues that may be more than just stress. Maybe you can seek help for those as well?)

I don't know if it's possible to actually lose one's intellectual ability (except by something catastrophic like a stroke or brain injury).

When I was a kid, I was practically a savant with my knowledge, vocabulary and school work, plus my memory was damn near photogenic.
Somehow I haven't increased over the years in...skill? I don't know how else to put it, but I feel like I'm relatively smart for my age, but I'm as smart as I was when I was 8. And an 8 year old who's smart enough for college is pretty f****n smart, if you think about it. I've just plateaued, so my brain is no longer as impressive hahaha.

_________________
I'm an author and public speaker on autism, gender, and sexuality
Read my articles @ http://kirstenlindsmith.wordpress.com
Follow updates @ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kirsten- ... 9135232493