Short Term Memory

Does anyone have this struggle? Any tips?

[Palomineo Pioneer]

I have trouble with my memory for a few days after being triggered. Best thing I've found is to not be triggered... I've also been taking minerals from majestic earth... It helps!

[funkygypsy in reply to Palomineo]

you can also play the free brain games on line like just type in free brain games they help to train your brain i play them all the time they help me

[Hidden in reply to funkygypsy]

Excellent advice, thanks! I'll do that!

[Hidden]

HI, I have massive problems with short term memory, or if I have to think quickly ie a name of someone, I need to carry a little pad with me to write down things I need to remember, I have asked the dvd rental library to tell me when I get a movie I have already seen as I have no memory of watching them, paying bills is a nightmare, I sometimes put in the wrong amount or pay the bill twice, for that reason I have taught myself to write across the bill paid.

I find it really problematic in every day life, leaving taps on, not shutting doors, or locking them, if I go to a hotel to stay I lose my key, I have to have the car valet parked or I will lose it, I basically have to have one of my adult children with me most of the time.

sorry you are experiencing it, its horrible, best of wishes, sandra

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks nurseincrisis! It's troubling at times. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Palomineo Pioneer]

Hi

I turned on the tv this morning and on AMI there was a documentary on memory... It reminded me of a memory trick I used 20 years ago!

One thing they said was that worry is bad for memory... They even mentioned PTSD and how it's possible to sort of erase memories... But! It's very inexact and you could loose things like your memory of your children or other important things!!!

They also said there is the ability to enhance and associate happy memories that can make life better, perhaps attaching a happy memory to a trigger situation so we can be less affected by the PTSD. This could sure help us!

Here is a memory trick website;

memory-improvement-tips.com...

It uses visualization and association! These are the things that can help us!

I think that for us the real trick will be to stop and figure out what triggers us the moment we trigger! It will be difficult because the trigger will make us loose our concentration!

I'm not sure what we can use as the trigger for the better memory though! It has to be what causes us to trigger the bad memory, if we can figure that out!!! That's why we have memory problems when triggered( at least with me!). Maby writing down the trigger and performing the memory trick later when we can concentrate on it.

For instance;

I used to leave my keys in the car all the time! I would always remember to lock the car but never to grab the keys... I spent a lot of time and effort getting my door opened!

Following this mind trick, I visualized a humongous door handle with mountain boots on kicking a silly looking set of keys.

So make up a visualization (humongous door handle with mountain boots),

(the more silly and ridiculous the better - Remember the Harry potter movie? ridiculous! I think this scene was based on this memory trick...

associate with an action

(kicking)

to another visualization

(a set of keys with a silly smile and a wink)

I did this at home and also went and sat in the car touching the components while visualizing them

Guess what! I never forget the keys in the car anymore!

When I reach for the door handle the association causes me to remember to grab the keys...

I think this can be used to deflect the bad trigger to a better association

We might even be able to associate the bad memory with another trigger that will not surprise us, that we must consciously access in order to access that bad memory... Then we can still have that memory and our kids faces ... Not loosing the other important information...

Anyway... It seems logical!

We may have many triggers. Well need lots of good memories to cover them!

[Hidden in reply to Palomineo]

Very helpful advice in this post, thank you for that!

[Palomineo Pioneer]

Oh and if you try this and it works, let us know! I havnt been able to do this with the PTSD trigger so far unfortunately!

T

[Hidden]

Thanks for the response. I will try it!

[Equis-Canine Volunteer]

Yes, I have trouble with short term memory. It is worse when I am stressed. Now it makes sense why I have trouble with names and faces.....because I'm always more stressed in social situations! I agree that worrying about it makes it worse. I use to worry that I had early onset Alzheimer now I'm just thankful it isn't that. Accepting this aspect of ptsd and not beating myself up about it has helped me.

[GeminiDancer Major Contributor in reply to Equis-Canine]

I kept saying the same thing!....that I was truly scared and convinced I have early onset Alzheimer's. Sometimes I'm so absent minded I feel like I'm losing my mind. Stress, anxiety and PTSD can totally short circuit our brains. It's hard not to best myself up about it. Thanks for sharing so I know I'm not alone and hopefully not completely losing it!

[Hidden in reply to Equis-Canine]

Boy does that make sense about having trouble with names and faces because of the stress of social situations. All the extra distracting noise makes it hard for me to focus on one thing.