LymeNet Flash: Looking for activities to help the brain

This is topic Looking for activities to help the brain in forum General Support at LymeNet Flash.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://flash.lymenet.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php/topic/3/19063

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

I might be off the wall on this, but I have a new counselor.

The talking thing just doesn't seem worth the energy it takes. The positiives of it are not that great.

I am more of a doer.

So, I got this idea that I would find things for the counselor to read that would help me improve my brain.

I still need help with reading and processing, etc.

This counselor does not use the computer.

But, if I could find things for her to read on how to improve the brain function...activities...

then she could read them and break it down for me so I could start adding these activities.

I know that when I first got lyme, I was not able to play freecell.

It was very challenging for me. Now, it is not so challenging.

Then a friend downloaded a scrabble site for me.

When I first started on it...it made me sick most of the time, but I stuck with it.

Now, I am doing much better on it.

Comments, questions, concerns...clear as mud?

Posted by Aligondo Bruce (Member # 6219) on :

yeah, I think you should play online boggle at WEBOGGLE like me! {I'm pileated wordpecker}.

just google 'boggle' and it's the top site. we could even form a lyme team!

Posted by Geneal (Member # 10375) on :

Go to Greatdaygames.com.

There are free games to play there.

I like Spellbound and Solitaire.

It took me a long time to "master" these games again.

Plus, it's fun. [Smile]

I'll think of some more and let you know.

Hugs,

Geneal

Posted by Aligondo Bruce (Member # 6219) on :

Come on guys, let's form a boggle team! We can dominate everyone. I don't know how good you guys are, but boggle is the one thing I am still really good at for some reason.

Boggle! WEBOGGLE! Yeah!

Posted by pmerv (Member # 1504) on :

we have new york times crossword puzzle books you can get at the bookstore. Start with the easy weekday ones and work up to the Sunday puzzles. We do them at lunch. We have a crossword puzzle dictionary but don't need it much at all any more.

Posted by sweet pea (Member # 6495) on :

When it is too hard for me to concentrate on reading, I do crossword puzzles. I also play solitaire.

I'd suggest not playing games on the computer, as it negatively affects us neurologically. Please consider reading or playing games using "hard copies."

Posted by Aligondo Bruce (Member # 6219) on :

haha, don't listen to them, play boggle! Reading is great, but crosswords are for ninnies.

Posted by just don (Member # 1129) on :

Excercise for MY brain consists of playing sudoku.

pauls pages.com gives you a puzzle of the day,,,as easy or as hard as you want.

Start out on the easy's and work up. Either online OR hard copy.

Think you can join there for a one time $3.95 but I dont.

I find my brain goofs stuff up more some days than others.

The sense of accomplishment is priceless.

I take a copy or two along while waiting at doctors appointments,,much less stressful than WAITING!!

I have no clue what boogle is,,,any help??

I can manage the 'hard' category of sudoku but extreme seems to require skills and concepts I dont have 'yet'

I cant get my head wrapped around X-fish,congegate pairs and simple coloring schemes. I finnally got bug removal to work for ME!!

If anybody can explain those conceps to me in terms i can understand,,I would sorely appreciate it!!I read the how to do it sections but the "WHY" escapes me!!

Nice thing it isnt MATH,,,just counting from 1 to 9 which usually works for me!!being--just don--

Posted by LymeCFIDSMCS (Member # 13573) on :

An expert in carbon monoxide poisoning recovery suggested to me playing a version of solitare that involves laying out rows of cards face down, turning over two cards one at a time, and trying to get pairs.

When you get a pair, you can remove them, otherwise you have to put both cards face down again, forcing you to try to remember the placement of the ones you have turned over to get pairs.

I think this actually does help with basic memory functions. I was doing it for awhile, both before and after inhaling oxygen to see if there was a difference before and after (there was).

Posted by kam (Member # 3410) on :

Last time I tried to play solitaire with cards instead of on line I was not able to do it.

I'll have to give it a try again and give your friends idea a try.

Thanks for the other great ideas too.

I'll have to give them a try.

Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :

Cognitive functioning is one of my worst symptoms.

I can't even play Candyland with the kids. I'd forget what color card I had all the time.
I can only read really short posts on lymenet d/t the "circuit overload" feeling.

I don't comprehend the jokes.

I don't know how to play that Soduko, solitare.

Are there any really simple thinking excercises I can do that don't cause that anxiety feeling? My lyme makes me feel like the world is coming to an end if I misplace a pencil.

[Frown]

Posted by onthemend (Member # 13454) on :

Yes, the only thing is - if its not going well, or as well as it would have for me in my pre-Lyme life - I get down. But I always DO keep trying, it's just that you can get sad from time to time.

Anyway, I'm a crosswords AND boggle, but Sudoku now gives me a headache! And remembering anything like the paired Solitaire or say, a Concentration-type matching card game is impossible for me now.

And did I tell you my career was in finance but right now I have a lot of trouble adding and subtracting? As my 10 year old son would say, 'true story'.

otm

Posted by TS96 (Member # 14048) on :

Thanks for sharing onthemend.

I can't balance the checkbook anymore, can't help my 2nd grader with math, it is very sad.

I've had trouble all my life with cognitive functioning, but is steadily getting worse over the past 9 years.

I can only hope some of it comes back.

One thing that does help is if I listen to cd's or tapes and have the ability to rewind often, over and over. I occasionally can have something stick.

Unfortunatly I have no time to do this as I am too busy trying to find things all day that I've misplaced, or aimiously walking around the house not having a clue what I'm doing.

One good thing about brain fog... we can keep a secret cuz we never remember what anyone tells us.

Posted by Andie333 (Member # 7370) on :

I play online boggle too and love it. When I first started, I was consistently in the bottom 5, no matter how many people were playing.

After months, I'm now usually in the top third of the pack, which is definitely an improvement.

I also do exercises at a site recommended by the NY Times called mybraintrainer.com
I had to join, but there are short term memberships, as well as annual. I picked the latter, because I was starting work and needed the exercises.

These score you, and, again, starting, I ranked in the lowest percentiles of many. But after some time and work, I've steadily moved up. It proports to test a number of different cognitive skills.

Kam, send me a pm if you'd like any more information.

Andie

Posted by Aligondo Bruce (Member # 6219) on :

andie do you play at weboggle? I am totally addicted to boggle. It is like searching for buried mental treasure, especially when you come up with 11 pointers and or words no one else gets like 'caique'. Lol. it's good for your mind and a good way to expand vocabulary!

Posted by kelmo (Member # 8797) on :

My daughter enjoyed wordsearch for a while.

We played scrabble a little bit, too.

To me, just running all the remote controls takes GREAT brainpower.

Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :

I've used daily crossword puzzles before and after getting ill. Even at my worst 5 yrs ago I believed they were helping me exercise my brain.

Even if I couldn't complete or sometimes get even a quarter of it done. Heck some days it was only, maybe 2 across and 2 down. Three letter words at that. lol

Exercising the brain is good for the brain. Now if I could get my legs/knees to agree to that?

Pam

Posted by bettyg (Member # 6147) on :

kam, i got this today and have never seen it before; thought you/we might enjoy reading about the years we were born! [Big Grin]