Lara Barnett (asker) Jan 30, 2018:

Dyspraxia Dyspraxia is a neurological condition causing problems in coordinating messages received from from the mind/brain and also reflects in memory problems.
Clumsiness and absent-mindedness is something that can come across in people with this condition, which we would obviously appreciate as a medical condition, while the character here is putting down his own coordination and memory skills. Therefore I am using the term ironically as the character is being self-deprecatiting.
This condition is neurological and is caused by the brain, but if anybody can think of a better medical condition (to be used ironically), then go ahead and suggest it and I will re-open question.
As my very first discussion entry explains, clumsy, absent-minded and such words cannot really be used in this context.

Kate Chaffer Jan 30, 2018:

Dyspraxia? Do you know what that disorder actually is???

bluenoric Jan 30, 2018:

@ Lara Dyspraxia?! The guy is saying there is something wrong with his mind!

Lara Barnett (asker) Jan 30, 2018:

@ Barbara Read my first discussion posting. Have you read it?

Barbara Cochran, MFA Jan 30, 2018:

You don't find BOTH of my contributions to be ironic and self-deprecating colloquial expressions??

Lisa Jane Jan 30, 2018:

I know In fact I had put absent minded, clumsy but in the context mente maldestra means he wasn't thinking straight, what was he thinking...

Lara Barnett (asker) Jan 30, 2018:

Hi I have put:
"God knows! Maybe I have dyspraxia; a congenital defect perhaps"
I am aware already of basic terms such as "clumsy" and "absent minded" but was looking for something a bit more ironic and self-deprecating. I think it is used strangely here, so am just turning it into a medical term now.

Anyhow, thanks for everyone's attempts to help - highly appreciated.
And apologies for rushing off so quickly and closing question without better explanation.
Hope this explains it now.

bluenoric Jan 30, 2018:

@ Lisa Jane This is certainly what the author wanted to say, but it is not what maldestro means.

bluenoric Jan 30, 2018:

Maybe *twisted mind*? I think the author uses maldestro inappropriately, as this is an adjective which it is not commonly used when referring to a mind.
From the context it looks like our guy is trying to come up with possible excuses/causes for his behaviour: Who knows? I have a twisted mind. A birth defect. Or I am just very stupid"

Lisa Jane Jan 30, 2018:

Or I must be out of my mind!

Lisa Jane Jan 30, 2018:

How about I must be a bit slow or I must be losing my marbles...maldestra means his mind is not functioning properly.

Lara Barnett (asker) Jan 30, 2018:

Context The reason I posted this is because I could not find an appropriate way to express this in terms of the context. The narrator has just described how he falsely accused his girlfriend of infidelity and has put his foot in his chances of keeping up the relationship. I would normally associate that with "absent-minded" or "clumsy", which are the most obvious translations here. Therefore I need something that fits the context itself. i.e. his actions were a bit more than what we in UK term as clumsy, and absentminded is normally not used for emotional issues like this.