Do you get more stupid as you get older?!

[Headless Rat]

Hi, I'm getting concerned about myself!When I was in school I was always top of my class, I have 2 scholarships & always got prizes for getting the best results.It wasn't that the competition wasn't tough in the class-it was, but I always rose to the challenge and enjoyed it. I was always seen as the one who acted the messer & yet got great results.Admittedly I did study but I enjoyed the image I had!When I went to uni I was in a small class & the others in the class were incredibly bright.I never studied in college as I just loved never HAVING to study every night. As a result my grades dropped & while I always passed all my exams I feel I never showed my true potential at college. I went to college for four year, have now just started a really "good" job in one of the biggest accountancy firms but now that I actually have to use my brain and pick up things really fast, I can't. I don't remember what people tell me two minutes ago & I never make connections between things I'm told-I feel like I just can't grasp it.I feel like everyone else is much smarter than me and that I am really stupid. I know they don't hire dunces but I think they hired me on results that I got years ago and for the personality that I have-I know I come across as efficient, hardworking, direct & sincere in interviews.Does anyone else have this problem??Please tell me I'm not the only one who's intellect has completely disappeared by the age of 23!!!

[Zorr0]

yes..my grey matter seems to be dwindling and Im only mid 30s

[dancealot13]

Headless Rat- I totally feel for you. I am 24 and I was always the same way. Very quick and always had a good memory. Over the past few years my short term memory has gone down hill, to the point I finally went to the doctors. Im not saying you have to do this, but there are so many things that can effect your memory.

Drinking alcohol too much (thats me big time), smoking, not enough sleep, stress, dehydration, lack of certain vitamins/minerals, too many diet products. Pretty much anything that constricts/ or limits the amount of oxygen your brain is receiving. Hope I helped. xxxcheers

[mkt]

you are not alone! i was always top of the class (much to my shame at the time) but now 8 years after leaving education i make silly little mistakes and don't seem to pick things up as well as i used to. goodness knows why. maybe its just that im not exposed to a structured learning situation all day every day. to be honest though its my common sense that seems to be disappearing more than my general intellect. some people go grey, i guess im gloing blonde in my old age!

(no offence to any blondes by the way, that wass just a joke before it gets taken seriously!)

[mkt]

as if to prove my point i just put 2 S's in was at the end of that post.

case closed. i am now older and thicker than i ever was before!

[spacechimp]

Why don't you play chess and do the crossword and such? These things are supposed to help prevent Alzheimer's and other brain degenerative illnesses.

[mkt]

i do a few crosswords. i now know lots of really obscure words that i'll never use but remain ridiculously stoopid! :o)

[Zorr0]

Ive drank so much beer over the years that Ive probably got less braincells now than when I was born. Ive killed them all off.

[kazminx]

aww poor Headless Rat although i feel bad at calling you that by the way...i feel the same..but then im 46!! old as hell i think. im particularly worried because my mum has dementia. up until about 2 yrs ago she was vibrant, attractive, ****** and wise...now she looks like a very old, submissive, shell of a woman. im so scared...i remember my mother at my age..full of life, full of energy, ****** and really gorgeous. what hope have i got...but you have a whole lorra life ahead. i think you need to build on your 'life skills' which is a confidence builder itself. maybe you have too much on your plate. set yourself mini goals and long term goals. i do a daily task sheet and tick off when completed...there are also some great courses to help with this...like Pacific Institute ..Personal Development stuff...really good stuff..very American but extremely effective. i work as a trainer for self esteem/confidence building so i have seen this work, its built into our courses...very powerful!!! look into it mate!!! slow down..relax..i bet you are brilliant!!

[Coobeastie]

Maybe you should try a different job.

[Headless Rat]

Thanks everyone for your very helpful and nice answers. It's good to know I'm not the only one- although, MKT, I am blonde so maybe that has something to do with it!!

I think it has something to do with confidence- I think I tend to be watching what everyone else is doing and trying to do everything at once and not concentrating enough on doing things in my own style.

Anyway, good look to all those secretely -intelligent but -outwardly -thick people out there!!

[Canary42]

You need a stimulating occupation, not accountancy for goodness sake. It's by a long chalk not too late to change. Go seek.

[david small]

Crisis of confidence. Your self worth has taken a knock...believe in yourself. You were hired on the ability you have, use it. You will gain confidence in time and will look back on this and smile. You are as good as they think you are.
Don't let stress get to you. Chill, it won't matter a damn in a hundred years time.