"Souldrained" doesn't suggest the cognitive issues people widely have these days though, it sounds more like just emotional health at first glance
Discussion
I'd say it's related. For example, if you have a shitty teacher that has no passion for his subject, it's unlikely you will develop any connection to it and at best you will just memorise things. This, I believe, directly impacts one's ability to understand. A good, passionate teacher will make it a pleasant learning experience, even if he doesn't explain why he is so passionate about it. I used to hate and suck at maths, until I found bitcoin where I actually had an enjoyable time learning about the mathematics behind it.
Digit hates Bitcoin (or did when we were friends) and she might find your story intriguing. Good post
On that topic (I guess, I don't know the details with your digit stuff), I'm writing a short thing on male/female dynamics that I'll post soon. Maybe you'd enjoy it. I, as many men these days, have completely lost our way when it comes to women. My last one really made me face reality and understand it with absolute clarity.