Hello! So, I have always joked around with my friends about how when you say a particular word a few times, you start to question if it even is a word, or if it is spelled that way, etc.(think of tubing, or smock as examples) I have noticed in the past few weeks that I (37yr) am having that problem with almost any word that I try to write. We are talking about “and/it/the/Patrick” and whatnot, and it is really making problems for me at work.
Does anyone else have this problem! Does your brain automatically make all words sound fake?
And, yes, all words are made up… I am talking about the ones that currently reside in common speech.
As an alternative to the neurological issues others are proposing, it could be this weird new disease called crippling anxiety.
I am legitimately asking- is suddenly having a problem processing words attributable to anxiety?
If you are anxious about the processing of words, most definitely this is possible, but I am 100% not saying that it is definitely the cause of your problems.
You are right now highly self-conscious that you might have a crippling brain condition. Also, every time you say something or write something down, you are also monitoring yourself to check out whether it continues to be true or getting worse. In so doing, you might be suffering this effect due to the anxiety that this is causing - you mind is so much more focused on the fear than on the word, which confirms that the word is somehow different in your head now.
I didn’t mean to sound like I was dismissive of your issues. I just think it’s absurd that a bunch of people with zero clinical experience jump to the worst possible conclusions (which, if it is anxiety, will just make this worse)