One of my few questions that I think about when I look in the mirror 
is am I getting dumber every day ?
I am 28 year old male I own my own biz , over all I think I am fairly
successful and yet I feel and think that I have a problem in my head .
Instead of advancing I am mysteriously falling behind . My major
concern is my memory which is not worth 2 cents , ex : I do not
remember things I did few days ago( sometimes ) someone ask me what
did you do last weekend ?  And my brain goes ??????????? hmmm I will
think about it for a minute or more finally I make something up so I
don?t look like an idiot.. And than It will come to me an hour or two
later , or sometimes it wont . I have difficult time adding things 
Subtracting , multiplying etc ..  And I use to be good in math when I
was a kid . I forget  things people tell me , peoples names  , Jokes 
etc. I think I also have problem with speech . I do not speak as nice
English as I should I have  very difficult time comprehending  things
. I speak 2 languages Polish and English and I think I have a problem
in both languages. ( If you met me you may not notice the problem )

My Days are very stressful at work I do something I do not enjoy
anymore I want to stop it but I cant too many obligations .  I thought
that this could be a partial problem because
I work mentally every day I have a desk job coordinating shipments and
customer service. IT IS HELL ?.. I have never seen as many pissed off
client as in my business ?
And It is the nature of my business .. not my  performance .

Anyhow very often I feel like my chest is being crushed and than I
have to take deep breathes to regain control , my right side of my
brain towards the back  feels sore fairly often .

My bottom line is what is wrong with me ?  any Ideas ? where should I
look for answers or shouldn?t I .

Best Regards

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 08 May 2006 21:09 PDT

bobo...

I have 25+ years of experience in the mental health field.

This sounds like classic burnout, to me, which could easily 
develop into increased problems physically and emotionally.

I suspect your spine is severely out of whack due to stress
tension, and would recommend starting with a chiropractor,
some therapeutic massage, and suggest you consider finding
a way to remove yourself from your stressful work situation,
temporarily, at least, for a vacation, if not permanently.
Delegating to a current employee or hiring one to do what's
stressing you is another option.

A physical checkup would also be a good idea, but I suspect
that subluxations in your spinal cord are contributing to
poor circulation to your brain and heart.

Let me know what you think...

sublime1-ga

---

Request for Question Clarification by sublime1-ga on 18 May 2006 01:45 PDT

Perhaps you could post a clarification regarding the value
of my response to your question.

A user's guide on this topic is on skermit-ga's site, here: 
http://www.christopherwu.net/google_answers/answer_guide.html#how_clarify 
 
sublime1-ga

bobo...

In the absence of requested feedback, I'm going to go along with
the commenters and consider this question well-answered. I'll
repeat my remarks here for the sake of future readers.

----------------------------------------------------------------

I have 25+ years of experience in the mental health field.

This sounds like classic burnout, to me, which could easily 
develop into increased problems physically and emotionally.

I suspect your spine is severely out of whack due to stress
tension, and would recommend starting with a chiropractor,
some therapeutic massage, and suggest you consider finding
a way to remove yourself from your stressful work situation,
temporarily, at least, for a vacation, if not permanently.
Delegating to a current employee or hiring one to do what's
stressing you is another option.

A physical checkup would also be a good idea, but I suspect
that subluxations in your spinal cord are contributing to
poor circulation to your brain and heart.

sublime1-ga

Ditto the comments of your researcher.  Also, if you use artificial
sweetner or drink diet sodas, stop now.  There is some research into
aspartame and memory loss.  You might also benefit from a sleep study,
which is a catch 22 with the above comments; excessive stress will
cause sleep problems, but problems sleeping can escalate stress.

This is likely a problem that can be resolved.  Seek qualified help.
Good luck.

Sublime has probably hit the nail on the head, but here are two further points.

A friend of mine found his memory was failing, he started taking a
dietry supplement and reckoned it helped (as he put it, it made him
feel better, so he got that benefit). I'll ask him what it is.

Incidentally, I've just Emailed him about the Aspartame - he uses it. 
Thanks onenonblonde-ga - I'll dig into that.

I have another friend who was doing a fairly stressful organizational
job, he got some strange virus (well thats what his doctor said) and
his memory literally disappeared.

He kept going by keeping a clipboard round his neck, and making notes
of everything.

This lasted for some time, IIRC about 6 months, and then he recovered.

It would be sensible having a medical check, that pain in the back
right of your head is worth investigating.

I've just talked to the friend of mine with the minor memory problem.

He is using Ginko ( it is a curious plant, he is a botanist, well was
many years ago )

Get a med check, IMO medics are useless, but there might be a physical cause
- a friend of mine died of a 'benign tumour'

I don't think the memory issue is all that odd.  I suffer from that
same trait... and I think it is just that, a natural trait.  We
probably fall in the bottom 1 or 2% of people when it comes to memory,
but frankly someone has to.  Other people may think we're strange when
we can't remember what it takes us a while to remember what we did
yesterday, but that's because they're not in the bottom 1-2%.
I find that I can't read books because I always forget what I have
already read so I feel like I should always start at the beginning of
the book... and if I do happen to finish the book, most of the story
is gone from my mind within days.
I have to keep my calendar up to speed because it remembers my
schedule far better than I ever could.
At night I place everything I think I'll need for the next day in a
pile so I don't forget any of it... and then I check again before I
walk out the door just as a second chance to remember anything.

I'm an almost stress-free guy.  Most people I know tend to think I
have a great head on my shoulders... and I'd like to think I'm on the
smarter percentages of the population, but when it comes to memory I
know I'm greatly lacking.
It could be part of the stress issue as many have mentioned, but the
memory part of your problem could simply be that you're in the lower
percentages of people when it comes to memory.  Learning to adapt to
our shortcoming is a large part of being successful.

If you practise Pranayam you memory (and also other health) problems
will be solved.
click the following site or search for 'Pranayam' on the web.
http://www.indiangyan.com/books/yogabooks/yogic_prayama/varieties_of_pranayama.shtml
good luck

A memory problem is serious when it affects your daily living. If you
sometimes forget names, you're probably okay. But you may have a more
serious problem if you have trouble remembering how to do things
you've done many times before, getting to a place you've been to
often, or doing things that use steps, like following a recipe.

Another difference between normal memory problems and dementia is that
normal memory loss doesn't get much worse over time. Dementia gets
much worse over several months to several years.

It may be hard to figure out on your own if you have a serious
problem. Talk to your family doctor about any concerns you have. Your
doctor may be able to help you if your memory problems are caused by a
medicine you're taking or by depression.

Memory problems that aren't part of normal aging

    * Forgetting things much more often than you used to
    * Forgetting how to do things you've done many times before
    * Trouble learning new things
    * Repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation
    * Trouble making choices or handling money
    * Not being able to keep track of what happens each day

Things to help you remember

    * Keep lists.
    * Follow a routine.
    * Make associations (connect things in your mind), such as using
landmarks to help you find places.
    * Keep a detailed calendar.
    * Put important items, such as your keys, in the same place every time.
    * Repeat names when you meet new people.
    * Do things that keep your mind and body busy.
    * Run through the ABC's in your head to help you think of words
you're having trouble remembering. "Hearing" the first letter of a
word may jog your memory.

AND NO ALCHOL, DRUG, CIGARETTE