Asklemmy

Almost certainly, and even if it doesn't, it'll probably give you like eight types of cancer

Absolutely. One of the first symptoms is mixing up vowels.

Tl;dr: I highly doubt that's the source of your problems.

Oof, man I'm sorry for your experience and I'm sorry the quality of replies you're getting is so.. Shit.

How do you know you've been inhaling this for so long?

Burning plastic can be bad, in addition to the chemicals "Remotelove" noted, there's a whole bunch of potential organic compounds created in the burning process. Exactly which ones depends on the type of plastic, temperature and how much oxygen is available. At complete combustion you'd basically just get CO2 and O2, but at less than optimal conditions you can get a variety of products (think ash). I'd be mostly worried about any carcinogenic products though, since a significant amount would be PAH's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycyclic_aromatic_hydrocarbon).

Now, for something you ingest to have a long term effect on your brain, it must (generally) somehow be able to get into your brain and your brain is pretty well protected by the blood-brain-barrier. Hypothetically a non-polar product from the burning plastic could cross over into the brain and mess shit up, but the chances of that are slim. And you'd also need to inhale enough of the smoke, for there to be an effect.

Listen, I'm not saying definitely not, but I'd be very surprised if that was the case here. I highly doubt that you have been breathing in thick, black smoke, so the amount of "brain damaging" molecules you've been breathing in is probably pretty low. Mutagenic or carcinogenic, sure possibly, but I wouldn't worry too much about that either. I imagine you've inhaled way less than if you were smoking a cigarette daily.

I suggest you try to think of other causes, a lot of things can play a part in "feeling more dumber er", like depression, lack of sleep, stress, unhealthy eating, lack of physical exercise etc.

Sounds like brain fog. Speaking as a fellow sufferer of anxiety (health anxiety included), I know how it is see something that seems wrong with you and try to pin a cause onto it. Are you being social? Keeping up with sleep, food, exercise? I know those are overstated but it sounds like you're having some brain fog. The more you focus in on the fog the more it may seem pronounced, as brain fog is highly influenced by stress. I've suffered from some myself and have felt kind of tuned out for a while. A large part of it for me has been from the shock of different life changes and the endless stress of work and relationships. The fog in that situation doesn't get a chance to subside because the body is trying to get through sustained stress with little damage.

It could also be from imbalances of vitamins like vitamin d or iron. Just to be clear, I highly doubt it was from the burning cable. It's definitely not good for you, but people smoke cigarettes and breathe road fumes for decades without losing the mental capacity you're describing here. Funky stuff happens when we look back on our past selves too, I feel like it's hard to make a fair comparison to yourself at any prior point when you factor in a lot of things that happen in-between. I don't doubt what you've been experiencing though. Sounds crappy. I hope you give yourself a chance to consider all of the possibilities and be easier on yourself for not functioning at 100% right now -- it doesn't mean it's forever or that it means something big, it could just be your capacity right now.

Htrrt, tfrrfjhbc? Frttd…uhytg! 😀

Narp

thanks for all of the comments guys this is massively helpful, some wire extender short circuited and ive been breathing that shit in along wuth its plastic fumes for years. it's not talked much avout onlind but ive seen the terms 'electronic odor' and 'electric fire' thrown arouund. it was an ikea cheap thing and theyve refused to respond to my emails

Brain cancer is one of the assumptive conditions (a condition which they assume is service connected just by having been in certain locations) for military burn pit exposure. So I’m going to go with yeah it’s bad for your brain.

you smoking out of a geeb or something?

even if it doesn't affect the brain, it will affect your lungs, and I wouldn't bet on it not affecting the brain too

Byproducts of burning PET (soda bottle plastic): hydrochloric acid, sulfur dioxide, dioxins, furans and heavy metals

No, you can't go all Dread Pirate Roberts and slowly build up an immunity to those over several years. Try as you might to impress that lady friend, it won't work.

Nah. I burn it all the horse and blue bagle trumpet chain.

yes