Running out of Ram

1. More than one antivirus app - This computer has multiple antivirus apps installed. Antivirus software: Apple, Symantec, and CleanMyMac Uninstall Symantec and CleanMyMac using the developer's instructions. Having one antivirus is bad enough, However, two really bad since they tend to fight one another.
2. Look how much RAM symantec is using: com.symantec.mes.systemextension 6.57 GB (Symantec).
3. More useful information might be available since you did not enable full Disk access: Time Machine information not available without Full Drive Access.

Suggest downloading the Application Etrecheck directly from a well Respected ASC Contributor. 

The application is free or paid from added features. 

Run the application with Full Disc Access ( Security & Privacy - Full Disc Access ).

It will take a Snap Shot -  both the hardware and software.

 The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - using the Additional Text Icon ( 3rd Icon to last )

We can have a look at the report for possible issues and may have possible suggestions to resolve the issues.

Any Third Party Applications that will interfere with the normal operation of the OS, alter, modify, remove or delete or attempt to do so is an invitation for disaster and may require a Reinstallation of the OS.

This includes AntiVirus, Disk Cleaners, Disk Optimizes, UnInstaller etc.

The The Built in Security  is all that is required.

The only way we are going to see both the Hardware and Software that is in play is if one runs the Etrecheck application suggested earlier.

Are there any AntiVirus, Disk Cleaner, Optimizers, Un-installers, etc installed which should be removed as per Developers Instructions. They are useless, unneeded, cause havoc and interfere with the normal operation of the OS and may even Corrupt the OS requiring a Reinstallation.

And CMM will fall into the above Category

The The Built in Security  is all that is required.

There are no known Windows-like Viruses in the wild that self replicate and affect macOS, because of the underling UNIX  Foundation and Permission Limitation. 

As my learned Colleague @lllaass has outlined what specific software needs to be removed and Only via the Developers Instructions. Doing a Drag and Drop to Trash of these applications will make a bad situation even worst. Installing an Uninstaller will make a bad situation worse than worse as they tend to remove aspects ( not all ) of the applications and also elements of the OS itself.

Though one may have been using these applications for 3 years. the damages they have caused have been amplified since the upgrade to Monterey.

Can only suggest reading some of the 600 posting on CMM .

Same goes for Norton Symantec also first 600 posting

With Monterey 12.0.1 there was a memory leak if the user changed the color of the cursor via the System Preferences. That problem was fixed in Monterey 12.1. What version of Monterey are you running?

Have you tried using the Activity Monitor to check memory usage (see below)?

- Pie Lover

I know this is the standard advice, but I have to wonder why even many Mac information sites "experts" recommend using an anti-virus app, and I know from my experience, my "Memory Clean 3" app will free up a lot of RAM, relieving my iMac from being bogged down by high RAM usage. If all I need is the OS, why do apps like this help improve my workflow? And if using any of these third party apps is so fraught with risk, why isn't there more universal agreement by Mac advisors/commentators, etc.? If their use truly is "an invitation for disaster", why would anyone ever advise users to download and use them? We don't see people advising us to smoke cigarettes or not to wear seat belts, etc, cause it's common knowledge they are "an invitation to disaster". Why on this issue is there so much disagreement?

Saxman wrote:

I know this is the standard advice, but I have to wonder why even many Mac information sites "experts" recommend using an anti-virus app, and I know from my experience, my "Memory Clean 3" app will free up a lot of RAM, relieving my iMac from being bogged down by high RAM usage. If all I need is the OS, why do apps like this help improve my workflow? And if using any of these third party apps is so fraught with risk, why isn't there more universal agreement by Mac advisors/commentators, etc.? If their use truly is "an invitation for disaster", why would anyone ever advise users to download and use them? We don't see people advising us to smoke cigarettes or not to wear seat belts, etc, cause it's common knowledge they are "an invitation to disaster". Why on this issue is there so much disagreement?

You clearly do not understand what etrecheck is.

BobTheFisherman wrote:

P. Phillips wrote:

FYI - the OP does. But the mouse is not interested in the cheese.

Exactly why I included the text from the person I responded to. I did not respond to the OP.

Got it :-)

OP was intended as in " writer of " " Block Quoted " your rely

This site is supposed to be about "discussions", in order to help users better understand, and be able to fix issues that occur. Didn't realize it's about amateur mind-readers, making snarky, baseless digs at those posting simple questions. Again, what in anything I wrote even hinted at not understanding what etrecheck is? I didn't even mention the word, and it's an app I own, and have used for years, so your snide remark is totally uncalled for...

Bait - no bite

FYI - the OP does. But the mouse is not interested in the cheese.

P. Phillips wrote:

FYI - the OP does. But the mouse is not interested in the cheese.

Exactly why I included the text from the person I responded to. I did not respond to the OP.