Cognitive decline and OOBEs

[Alexander]

This is directed mostly at Jeff and Michael:

Do you feel your youthful cognitive abilities are restored OOB? That is, being OOB cures you of any declines you may have from dementia?

I’m starting medications that cause cognitive decline now so it’s become a major question for me.

[Michael Hawkins]

This is directed mostly at Jeff and Michael:

Do you feel your youthful cognitive abilities are restored OOB? That is, being OOB cures you of any declines you may have from dementia?

I’m starting medications that cause cognitive decline now so it’s become a major question for me.

Hello Alexander.  I'm sorry to hear about your continuing ordeal.  I hope that things turn around soon, as I hate to think of a friend having to endure such pain and difficulty.  It's encouraging to see you on this board.

I don't know if my early life OOB experiences represent a cure for dementia.  I do know that they were beautiful, life-affirming and spiritually validating, while also providing deep assurance that life is far more than the limited perspective that we're conditioned into.  There is a level of trust and surrender, as well as connection with a profound sense of transcendence, that can't be adequately translated into words.

I think that a regular, skillful and committed meditation practice is probably as effective at combating dementia as anything in this world.

[Alexander]

This is directed mostly at Jeff and Michael:

Do you feel your youthful cognitive abilities are restored OOB? That is, being OOB cures you of any declines you may have from dementia?

I’m starting medications that cause cognitive decline now so it’s become a major question for me.

Hello Alexander.  I'm sorry to hear about your continuing ordeal.  I hope that things turn around soon, as I hate to think of a friend having to endure such pain and difficulty.  It's encouraging to see you on this board.

I don't know if my early life OOB experiences represent a cure for dementia.  I do know that they were beautiful, life-affirming and spiritually validating, while also providing deep assurance that life is far more than the limited perspective that we're conditioned into.  There is a level of trust and surrender, as well as connection with a profound sense of transcendence, that can't be adequately translated into words.

I think that a regular, skillful and committed meditation practice is probably as effective at combating dementia as anything in this world.

I’m also thinking of all the elderly who die with dementia. They must get their faculties back in the post-death state.

[Michael Hawkins]

I’m also thinking of all the elderly who die with dementia. They must get their faculties back in the post-death state.

Yes, I think that when we drop the physical body, we also drop all of its accumulated wounds and dysfunctions.  Then there is a re-setting before the whole thing starts up again.  We're trying to end the cycle here, or at least move closer to cessation.

[Alexander]

I’m also thinking of all the elderly who die with dementia. They must get their faculties back in the post-death state.

Yes, I think that when we drop the physical body, we also drop all of its accumulated wounds and dysfunctions.  Then there is a re-setting before the whole thing starts up again.  We're trying to end the cycle here, or at least move closer to cessation.

So what compels reincarnation? Particularly if the post death state is devoid of old age, suffering, and death. Is it craving for physical existence? Boredom? Or something that naturally occurs as you exhaust yourself in the post death state?

(I had this conversation with someone once- saved here- https://alexanderlorincz.com/index.php/dialogues/why-do-we-return )

[Michael Hawkins]

So what compels reincarnation? Particularly if the post death state is devoid of old age, suffering, and death. Is it craving for physical existence? Boredom? Or something that naturally occurs as you exhaust yourself in the post death state?

(I had this conversation with someone once- saved here- https://alexanderlorincz.com/index.php/dialogues/why-do-we-return )

We are addicted to the good, the bad and the ugly.  The karma of craving and clinging (ego-attachment) depends on our pursuing things that are impermanent and not-self, so that we end up chasing our tails across lifetimes.  We have a chance to see these things in the moment, and to let them go, but it's an uneven process where we still get trapped in our habits, and then have to examine things all over again.  Better to do it now, while we have some awareness of how it works.

Thank you for the link - I'll check it out when I get a chance.

[Jhanananda]

There is another angle on cognitive decline that I find is compelling, and that is the effect of air pollution might just be the primary cause of cognitive decline.  If that is the case, then one would need a multi-gas air purifier, not just a HEPA filter to reduce the effect of air pollution on cognitive decline and perhaps find recovery.

Air pollution linked to dementia cases
https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/air-pollution-linked-dementia-cases

[Alexander]

Here is the latest day of my memory log (which was improving linearly before Seroquel) and you can see the surge in memory poofs escalate today.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19AD5ohfBxzf_cQd9evOQ5yWslMss2APP/view?usp=drivesdk

And then here is the data on the drug causing cognitive decline

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QPRlsy4m08dQFQ0bINQCOG4dqUFhIBf1/view?usp=drivesdk

I could try a choline supplement when out of here which might help. So there is hope there. And, keep challenging myself mentally every day.

It’s extremely discouraging as I haven’t even left the hospital yet. And, I’m still suffering under the extreme unpleasantness of akathisia.

I think the hospital should have given me only the Haldol shots to get me out of the psychosis, then let me reset back to normal after that. All the maintenance drugs have thus far caused me disability, not the psychosis.

Now I have to try to be nice to the social worker when she comes so I can at least go home and be with Mom & Dad 🙁.

With no akathisia I can at least live…
But then with bad memory from the drugs it causes me to re-adapt all my plans for the future. I’m 32. So one thought I had was become a homebody, meditate / do painting / writing, a fulfilling life. But if my cognition goes I’m just getting reduced more and more intellectually. All I am is a mind 🤷‍♀️.

It’s sad to see such a promising life get destroyed so rapidly.

[rougeleader115]

My herbal teacher recommended choline supplement once or twice a week to unbind dream states. She said some drugs and herbs cause you to lose or block choline including marijuana. I have never lost access to my dreams except under a lot of daily stress or taking sleeping pills and sometimes alcohol. I am attempting to be drug free right now after smoking marijuana as pain management and appetite inducer for years. I have struggled with both of those issues since my teenage years and I am 31 now. Constant inflammation in some way or other. Definitely related to my genetics and premature birth, but I’m sure other things contribute to my general bodily unease and pain. Doctors only seem to have question marks for my condition. They can tell something is wrong, but can’t find what it is.

The lifestyle you described is the one I am currently living and I recommend it. I am home most of the time meditating, calligraphy art or art in general, studying, video games and tv or whatever else to pass my time. Just trying to remain present and deepen my practice.

Regardless, I am just trying to encourage feeling yourself out and testing things related to your practice and life. We all do that here but it is nice to be reminded we are not out of place for needing or wanting  to adjust our views and test things that are safe and conducive to find peace. I’m sure once you are out of there, you will have more options to assist getting off the psychiatrics and deepening your practice. Many good wishes to you Alexander, I have thought of you often since joining this forum and feel you can and will find the depth you are seeking. I am still trying to get to the oobe myself after a decade. Will definitely report if dropping cannabis is one of the major factors in my lucidity.

Rougeleader