Hello, this is my first attempt at starting a conversation here, so bear with me. Many months ago now, I lost my ability to think. Specifically, to engage in tasks that require significant concentration. I used to be a poet, and painter, but both of those activities, as well as reading (some more substantial than a newspaper) and watching foreign movies or any film that demands close attention. I'm guessing from what I've read here, that this is the dreaded brain fog. I've had memory troubles for years (long before I got MS, diagnosed in 2001.) related to severe depression and PTSD. So, in some ways, it's not a great stretch, but I used to be able to do some more strenuous thinking activities (like writnfg and painting). What is strange is that I'm not having any discernible thoughts. Although I never really had to think to write, something ( a phrase, an image ,etc.) would trigger me to write. Kind of the same with painting. I never had a preconceived ida as to what I was going to paint, choosing the size of the canvas was something I thought about more, than what I would paint. I'd pick a color and start painting. Typically, the painting ( or the poem) would direct itself where it wanted to go. Very rarely when painting, (and less so when writing) would I have something specific I wanted to do. And it worked somehow. It was very much plugged into the subconscious. The images that "appeared" on the canvas when I first started painting were very surprising. Anyhow, those are things I used to do. When I try ti explain it to other people, they have advice on how to overcome this, just start writing or painting, etc., not really understanding this is visceral, mot a matter of just doing it and thereby making it happen. They don't understand. And at the same time, my balance has been way off lately. I used to only need a cane when I was out in the world, not when I am at home. Anyhow, it makes me sad. There's just nothing there. And part of it may be caused by psych meds, but the lack of wgat I would label "sensation" internally, is new. I feel numb. It's also been nearly ten or more years since I've had an MRI, which I plan to bring up with my neurologist (I have a scheduled appointment in a week and a half). I see my neurologist every 3-4 months, and she gives me a very thorough exam of the physical side of MS (walking, reflexes,, hearing, seeing, and so on) but I am a bit surprised it's been so long since I've had an MRI. My MS has been stable since I had my only relapse in 2004. Nearly 14 years without a relapse is very fortunate, I'm not complaining, I feel very lucky. My symptoms have been pretty mild. I don't have problems with fatigue, pain, or relapses. But now, it seems I am getting some of the more unplesant issues that go along with MS. So, I know I've bounced all over the place, not really presented a very coherent case of my difficulty. Thanks for reading this.