u/ricardo5595

I’ve had OCD since early childhood, but in the last few years my symptoms have become extremely severe.
Right now I’m dealing with ongoing dental and tonsil/throat problems, and I noticed something very strange: whenever I take Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), my OCD symptoms become dramatically quieter during the antibiotic course. The constant obsessive thoughts, anxiety, mental pressure and compulsions calm down significantly — sometimes almost completely.
Then a few days after finishing the antibiotics, the OCD symptoms return again.
This has happened multiple times now, so it doesn’t feel random anymore.
I know antibiotics are not a treatment for OCD, but I’m wondering if anyone else has experienced something similar, especially related to infections, inflammation, tonsils, dental issues, or immune system activation.
Has anyone here had OCD symptoms improve temporarily while taking antibiotics? If yes, did you ever figure out why?
TL;DR: Severe lifelong OCD symptoms temporarily improve dramatically while taking Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanic acid), then return after stopping the antibiotic. Has anyone experienced something similar?

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
But since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have all come back again.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs and Effexor dose reduction, then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
But since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have all come back again.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs and Effexor dose reduction, then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
But since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have all come back again.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs and Effexor dose reduction, then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.

TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.

TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.

I’m writing this because I honestly feel desperate and isolated, and I want to know if anyone has experienced something similar.
Around the COVID pandemic in 2021, I suddenly developed severe stuttering and extreme brain fog. Before that, I had NEVER stuttered in my childhood or earlier life. It came out of nowhere.
In 2022, after starting an SSRI, the stuttering and brain fog disappeared almost completely for about a year.
Then in early 2024, everything suddenly came back again for no obvious reason. The stuttering and brain fog became so severe that I had to stop private tutoring, which I previously loved doing. Around the same time, I also developed severe anhedonia for about 6 months — I completely lost my libido, couldn’t feel pleasure, motivation, or emotional connection to anything.
Then in summer 2024, when my Effexor (venlafaxine) dose was reduced from 150 mg to 75 mg, something strange happened: the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia almost completely disappeared for about 2 months.
In 2025, we also tried switching from Effexor to Trintellix (vortioxetine), and during the first few days of the switch, the stuttering and brain fog suddenly improved again for a short time — then the symptoms returned.
Since winter 2024, the stuttering, brain fog, and anhedonia have continued to come and go, but overall they remain severe.
My psychiatrist and I have tried many different medications and dose changes, but nothing has really helped long term.
At this point I feel extremely hopeless. I barely have any motivation left to live.
Because of the brain fog and stuttering, I’ve become isolated from my family and friends. I can barely communicate normally anymore or feel connected to people. It feels like I lost the person I used to be.
If anyone has experienced something similar — especially sudden adult-onset stuttering + brain fog after COVID — please share your experience. And if you managed to recover or improve, please tell me what helped.
TL;DR: Sudden onset stuttering and severe brain fog after the COVID era, temporary improvement with SSRIs, Effexor dose reduction, and briefly during switching to Trintellix — then relapse. Looking for people with similar experiences or recovery stories.