Sluggish mind and socialising issues

I have had issues I have been aware of since being a teenager (I'm 26 now), but never really confronted. I have decided to finally go to my GP, however, my usual GP has the tendency to dismiss issues without looking for an answer. In preparation, I would like to get my words out onto a page and maybe get some advice on how to approach this.

I don't really know what I think is wrong and I don't like to self diagnose, but I'll try to explain as best I can.

My mind almost always feels foggy/sluggish and I struggle to sort through/concentrate on information and thoughts. I am also easily distracted. When I receive a large amount or intense stimulus (this could be as little as a conversation), my brain feels overloaded and goes into a frenzy of sorts.

These issues have greatly impacted my life personally and professionally up to this point and I really want to .

The social aspects bother me the most and are easier to describe. I wrote the below in a moment of clarity on the situation.

• I struggle to respond naturally to people and have to work hard to think of what to say. It comes off as awkward/stilted.
• At times my mind is blank when I'm looking for a response.
• I forget words mid-sentence a lot.
• Silences make can make me feel extremely uncomfortable.
• I often stutter at the beginning or middle of sentences, even when I don't feel nervous or anxious. This even happens with people I am very comfortable with, such as close family and friends.
• I have difficulty comprehending the words people say. I can hear just fine, but words sometimes don't sound like English to me or are jumbled. I ask people to repeat and it sometimes doesn't work so I just try to fill in the gaps, smile and nod.
• Sometimes my sentences are incoherent (slurring or jumbled).
• I usually have to force body language such as smiling etc. It's the same with laughing. Again, this comes off as stilted.
• Places with loud music or background sound (such as parties and clubs) make me disconcerted. It's like I can't process through all the noise and information.
• I really struggle to look people in the eye. I try hard to.
• I often get wrong end of the stick.
• Socialising drains me to the point of exhaustion, but I enjoy it and wish I could do it more.
• To cope in these situations, I'll sometimes dig my nails into my palms. Twisting my ring sometimes helps.

Other than the above, I generally feel like I don't have complete control of my body and I'm helplessly watching as I stumble through my life.

It has always been this way but it's gotten worse in the past few years. I think maybe lock-down made it a lot worse. I do try to stretch myself and put myself out there, but it's like running on the spot. I actually want to be more of a social, I'm not wanting to live the life of a loner/hermit and never have, but all my attempts in my years have failed.

Does this sound familiar to anyone or is there any advice on how to approach this with my GP?

Thanks.

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