Memory loss

[natejohnson0201]

So I've noticed my memory is still really bad and I really have a hard time remember anything from the days past. Anyone have this issue and did you conquer it??

Thank you!

[HopingCat]

I am struggling with this too. I can't seem to really thinking about what even happened years ago. It's like my brain is trying to trick me in thinking I felt this horrific all my life. I have been dealing with depersonalization/derealization and that messes with your memory and thinking. It sucks

[suzemw]

I definitely struggle with this as well. Part of me writes it off to getting older, but in my heart I know that's not really the case. I'm so sure that my anxiety is messing with my concentration and my memory. And I say "concentration" and "memory" because it is both short term/ holding on to thoughts and ideas, as well as things that happened in the past. I hate it. I feel you...

[Hidden]

Hello. Have you been taking any rx medication for pain, anxiety (such as Xanax)or sleep medication such as Ambien?

[natejohnson0201 in reply to Hidden]

I do take xanax from time to time

[Caddycat]

Psych drugs have a tendency to do this. Especially when tapering or recently discontinued.

[Hidden]

So, about the meds, as mentioned in another post, some of the RX medications taken for consistant basis over a period of time can disturb memory. That's why I asked about pain relievers like Percocet, Oxycodone, Vicodin, anxiety medicine such as Xanax, depression medication such as Cymbalta or Wellbutrin , and even some muscle relaxers or sleeping meds such as Ambien sometimes can cause some permanent short term or long term memory issues in some people. Age when taking these meds, or several in combination, can be a factor.

AND of course, our companion ANXIETY, can mess with us sometimes regarding our memories, particularly trying to remember something or a word when speaking and ....then a few minutes later it pops up.

I have some memory challenges, must of which just happen and I find ways to deal with them. Some of them I think are from current medication, which I have accepted as a trade off for the benefits I receive from them.

I have some memory issues sometimes regarding short term memory, such as remembering names of people I just met, and long term memories that I'm just not certain about.....like did I dream something or did that actually happened. So I'll ask someone, including my husband about that....Because there is just the two of us at home, I have a deal with my husband and close friends to tell me if I am repeating myself about telling them something. I think that just comes from thinking about something in my mind and don't remember I already told him. And I remind him, HE hasn't told me about something. So that's trade off....don't know if that's just a blip regarding memory. (Husband likes to call all these types of memory recall issues just minor "brain farts." lol ) While annoying, I don't worry about it.

As I don't write nearly as much as when I practiced law, I question my spelling at times....and recently we purchased a Google Home device for information and music, and discovered it can spell words. I can ask it how to spell a word to verify I have written it correctly...as sometimes the word just doesn't "look" correct to me. Many times I'm correct! (Yeah!). That type of memory issue is just from lack of use I think. I recommend any of the rather inexpensive devices such as Google Home for anyone....sure beats digging through a dictionary!. It can be programmed easily to remind me when to take meds, etc. I like the woman's voice on ours. When I thank her, she always tells me "Your welcome."

Now, I had a rather severe accident where a very large truck hit my Mustang convertible in 2000, and my brain was jostled a bit. So I know from professional testing some memory issues come from that. That is frustrating, but I learned to live with that....but I keep a memory book (a brief diary) now, and periodically I'll go back and read pages to remind myself. I also keep a medicine diary where I note the time each day that I take medication, what I eat and leave a short note on how I'm feeling or a word or two about what I did in between those times...such as walked my dog, went to church to the grocery, attended a class, read, etc.

Guess what all of what I been say, is yes there are memory issues, some like the permanent type from a head injury, some temporary from anxiety, some temporary or permanent from medication, some from lack of use, and so on. But even though frustrating at times, there are ways to compensate when a memory challenge happens, or when I know somethings are going to challenge my memory and I keep a small note pad in my bag or pocket just in case I need to write something down to remember later.