Health Anxiety and Memory

[Slickrock]

I have had anxiety for as long as I can remember. I am 52 years old now. I will say it does come and go. I can go for a while from having a flare up and then all off a sudden it will grab on to something and we are off to the races. Unfortunately this time it has grabbed on to something that is almost impossible to prove one way or the other. Since the lock down and pandemic started I have been having working memory problems (very short term memory) and since I have anxiety it has now latched on to it and as you probably know anxiety makes memory problems even worse. It becomes a vicious circle with lots of trigger stacking. I have always had some scattered brain issues. I was diagnosed with ADD in adulthood but now they seem worse. I have talked to drs, therapists and they all say I seem fine but every time there is a memory issue my fight or flight kicks in and I go to seeing myself sitting alone at 60 and cannot remember who I am. Does anyone else have any experience with this sort of health anxiety?

Backstory - I should add that my Father who I was very close to committed suicide 28 years ago because of severe anxiety and in a few weeks I will be turning the same age as he was when he did it. I keep wondering if there is a link?

[mom483]

There may be a connection, but there doesn't have to be. Your are not your father. You have the opportunity to make different choices. As for the anxiety . I go through the same thing everyday. Then I remind myself that anxiety plays tricks on our perception. What we see in the middle of an anxiety attack is much different than reality. Although anxiety is very real, it is a feeling and it will pass. Remind yourself that although you are getting a little older, you are not losing your mind and yes, some memory problems can creep in but they are made worse by the anxiety. Rather than trying to fight the anxiety, try logic. Focus on what you know. If remembering things is difficult, make a list. But the more you berate yourself about forgetting something, the worse the anxiety becomes. Laugh it off. Call it a senior moment. Whatever takes the pressure off you. Have the compassion for yourself that you would have for a friend, Be kind.

[Slickrock in reply to mom483]

Thanks for the reply mom483! I feel I need to clarify a couple of things though. I am not thinking I will do the same thing as my Father but being the same age as he was has created a lot of reflection of mortality and fear that something else might take me. With regards to my memory I am not beating myself up about it but rather the anxiety has latched on to do I have early onset dementia for Alzheimers.

[mom483 in reply to Slickrock]

I understand. I'm not going to tell you not to worry because that only INCREASES the worry! I got to that point (. of reflection) and drove myself crazy with "what MIGHT happen". We can only control our response to a situation, and if create a situation, we have to create a healthy response to it.

When you find yourself thinking about what might happen, try to think about how you would react to give yourself the best possible outcome. More likely than not, the situation will never arise, but you will at least know what to expect!

😉

[lolanell]

No, history does not have to repeat itself. With good mental health support and coping skills, meds, support groups you can feel better. You need to talk it through with others. Keep us informed.