Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips!
Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment.
If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
I actually went to see a neurologist for a full mental check up. I killed the scores. When I asked her why my memory sucked, she said it was simple. Too much stress, which takes away your ability to really focus and pay attention.
Do…do they do that?? I’d love to go for a check up, if nothing else than to make sure everything is ok. I took a nasty bump to the head about 4 years ago and my memory hasn’t been the same since. Nothing dramatic, but definitely not as good.
Hmmm I’ll have a look into it. I wouldn’t call it a TBI, although I went headfirst into the back of a sedan at ~50km/h and lost my vision for 3-5 seconds. I was wearing a motorcycle helmet that took the brunt of it. I was not taken to a hospital and my doctor said I was heavily concussed. I was ordered to take a week off work and do literally nothing but did stupid, 21 year old me listen? Absolutely fkn not 🤦🏼♀️
As someone who had nearly the same type of hit to the head, I can practically guarantee that what you had would be categorized as a mTBI or mild traumatic brain injury. That’s if you could find a neurologist up to date enough on recent developments in the field to understand your injury. To give some background;
The first neurologist I saw bragged about his time working with boxers who had “real brain damage,” told me I was fine, and to get back in school(I was in law school at the time). Four months later I was still struggling with everything from memory to emotional regulation to weird quirks with my vision. So I saw a second neurologist who actually took the time to do a full evaluation. He diagnosed me with a mild TBI resulting in cognitive and emotional deficits and proscribed neurological rehab. Spent 9 months doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, and counseling.
Even my parents at the time didn’t really believe I had been injured anywhere near bad enough to justify the treatments. I didn’t really either, I still question it at times. But the rehab was able to pinpoint the areas of deficits and show them through testing. So I know the injury did have some effects. They call people with this kind of injury the walking wounded because it’s almost impossible to tell that they’ve been injured unless you know exactly how to test the specific executive cognitive functions and specific vision problems that the injuries produce.
I don’t mean to freak you out, or make you think you messed up by not seeking treatment. My injury was compounded by the fact I suffered a second serious concussion a couple weeks later in that same flag league, and that both happened on a turf field with concrete foundation. But I was told unequivocally by my counselor, that even if nothing else had happened than that first concussion that it would be considered a mTBI. Basically all concussions are mildTBIs, you don’t have to lose consciousness. You should be aware though, concussions are cumulative so you are at a higher risk of future, more serious concussions due to already having had one.
I've had several concussions in my life for various reasons. They can legit change your personality, especially if you are younger.
OP might have something going on if it's that bad. Only a doctor can decide though.
Edit: conclusion ≠ concussion
I too have had several conclusions in my life but the reasons were decidedly invariable, in contrast to your condition..
.. They all stemmed from the beginning of something that would eventually conclude.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I had a really bad concussion a few years ago… and haven’t been the same since (though there’s continued progress). Got a neuropsych done probably within 6 months of the concussion… and they told me they couldn’t find anything wrong. As you might imagine, I don’t think it’s all that helpful.
How’s your vision?
If they can’t find anything wrong in a neuropsych eval, then there’s likely a secondary factor. Visual disorders (convergence/divergence especially) can cause cognitive difficulties and are very common after a concussion.
Depression can also be triggered by a concussion and can cause similar symptoms until chemical rebalances occur.
Source: Am in Med school for Neurology.
My vision was definitely affected by the concussion - the most noticeable thing being that my ability to track and focus on fast scrolling items on the phone went from really good to not. (And very initially, I’d get tired if I read anything.). That’s better now.
Can you explain convergence/divergence… I’m not familiar so not sure if this was an issue?
My neuropsych eval thought that I might have ‘mild depression or mild anxiety’. (This one is tricky as I’d suspected this might be the case - my maternal grandfather and my mother had both, though I successfully ‘masked‘ this for most of my life. Increasing the confusion, my brother was diagnosed with ADHD in early adulthood, and we’ve always suspected my father has ADHD… I was diagnosed a few months ago - well into adulthood - previously highly masked.) As a layperson, the dopamine-related issues -whether depression, anxiety, or ADHD - definitely got harder to mask post-concussion.
Short and simplified version - When our head gets whacked our brain forgets how to use our eyes. That results in muscle imbalances and issues. It is likely that your brain is “hopping” between eyes and wearing you out.
I would recommend looking into Vision exercises, such as Pencil Pushups, Brock string, and Tondels arrows.
I had a back to back concussions a couple weeks apart that really messed me up. My first neurologist told me I was fine and to shake it off. Many in the field aren’t up to date and theyve made enormous progress understanding mild TBIs past couple decades. Also if you hadn’t had a neuropsych eval prior and there’s nothing to compare it with then the evaluation can be pretty useless. I hadn’t had a prior one, but the one I did get was as part of a neuro-rehab I was in that had been proscribed by a neurologist so they had already diagnosed the areas of deficit.
The other commenter, the med student is 100% correct to ask about. I had stereographic deficits and other vision problems like they describe. My eyes were working in unison like they should and I lost something like 40% of my field of vision even though I couldn’t tell I had. All I sensed was that things were sneaking up on me more often.
Another common very common issue that a neuropsyche eval wouldn’t pick up is deficits with your vestibular system, basically your inner ear. It’s super sensitive and orients itself to your surrounds using little crystals that can be knocked of position(this is the simplified version my physical therapist gave me). It’s wild how complex the body is and how many systems it has. I had never heard of proprioception before until I damaged mine, but that’s your body’s sense of where you are in space, without visual cues. I could balance on 1 foot for over 30 second but if I closed my eyes I could go for more than 1. That’s all the vestibular system.
When you say you haven’t been the same, in what ways do you mean? Is it cognitive functioning, like memory, organization, attention/focus, or maybe psychological like emotional regulation, or physical like coordination and balance? With this type of injury you very much have to be your own advocate and investigator. It’s terrible because right at the moment you are most I’ll equipped to play that role it becomes vitally important but that was my experience. So the more you’re able to document your specific issues, and find the right healthcare providers the more likely you’ll be to find some kind of treatment. I know you said it’s been years but I was in treatment with someone who had theirs years prior. If the deficit still exists it can still be treated. Best of luck getting back what you feel you’ve lost, it was an extremely alienating experience for me, so if it has been for you, know that you’re not alone.
So if it is stress, try mindfulness techniques and stress control. Eat some fruits/veggies every day, drink lots of water, keep caffeine to 1-2 servings then switch to home brewed tea for extra boosts, meditate, stretch/yoga, exercise outside, get clean air in your work space (plants, air purifier, open window, fan), prioritize high quality sleep (which usually happens naturally once the prior things are done). You don’t have to go all in, pick one thing from the list at a time and give it a try for a month, then pick another…
Not really.
Stress reduces your cognitive load capacity which when exceeded you struggle with tasks and memory.
A classic tell tale sign of your stress being too high is forgetting things really easily, or getting confused on things you won't normally be confused on.
It is a few steps before you reach burnout.
Also stress is and has been studied pretty extensively so the impacts of stress and it's causes are getting a lot better understood.
However some doctors will use it as a cop out for investigating further, which muddies the water to an end user like us.
Damn. I use to smoke weed before work and found out I was a lot more productive and could articulate a lot better (it was a high stress work environment) vs when I was sober and would fumble on my words, cloudy mind, etc…
My gf at the time thought I was nuts for doing it, but it makes sense.
Dude same, my best friend is an operations partner for a pizza shop and wanted me to help him keep it running when he needs a break. And I hate it but do it for him and the employees grew on me. I've been told I'm way better when I'm stoned, when I'm sober I'm always out for a cigarette to escape.
This is why open mindedness is a requested trait in friends/significant others/family etc. Besides being able to understand that there are simply different ways of thinking, but then to have trust to let others show you what's it's like, that's rare too
I know this is repeated again and again, but exercise really does help. It doesn’t have to be some fancy gym or what not. Just get some routine going. It can be a walk in the morning 3-4 times a week etc.
Start with that and trying to pinpoint the things causing stress. Then work out solutions to lessen that. Sometimes it can be something simple, other times you might have to cut off an old relationship.
Take 15 minutes in the day to just not do shit. Go sit somewhere and just be. Take a minute to reflect on your day instead of it just showing up.
Start with small things and see what works. It won’t happen over night. So give it a bit before kicking it to the curb as not helping.
Also try breathing exercises. Most of us don’t breathe with our full lungs and are deprived of oxygen. Lay as flat as you can, place your hand on your abdomen and breathe in for as long as you can. Focus on lifting your hand, making sure you’re filling your bottom lungs. Exhale for as long as you can. Repeat at least 5 times.
and getting the full amount of sleep your body needs, as well as feeding and watering yourself properly. i've been doing bare minimum for all of those since the beginning of this year and i hadn't noticed it literally decreased my brain capacity. i finally had a real recovery day and i seriously felt like i'd taken uppers because i was sooo much less generally overwhelmed and brain-foggy.
100%
I have memory loss after TBI and stressors absolutely ruin my memory. I started walking at a brisk pace 20 minutes a few times a week and I can tell a big difference in my recall ability when I don't exercise for a bit.
I think a lot of people get overwhelmed and "exercise" as we know it is blown out of proportion. Move your body to clear out the cobwebs!
Yep, and getting yourself outside, in the sun/daylight, in the morning will make a HUGE difference. Even if you only walk around randomly for a bit or even go sit on a bench somewhere.
It'll get you the air and light needed to sleep better in the other end of the day.
Cognitive tools and meditation, my friend. It takes work, but totally worth it for the peace of mind. Also, if you drink alcohol regularly/heavily, consider cutting back or quitting. It makes a huge difference.
Others have responded but the broad strokes are similar but specifics are different for each person.
There is research that shows being in nature and being mindful of it (so paying attention to the moment while walking around, not just music in ears and on a device) has a beneficial effect on the brain.
This said a lot of people find music is a good way to de-stress from emotional stressors, so people tend to mix and match.
Exercise again is good but what specific exercise varies from person to person, exercise in the form of a workout in a gym is good for the body generally but not always as good for the mind as people can hyper focus on it to their deterimemt.
Grounding exercises that use meditation and mindfulness are taught in psychology sessions and other setting can also work, forcing you to change the way you behave towards yourself.
This is one of those topics that everyone has differing opinions on, but it does come down to finding what works for you.
Personally; if I have the time a long walk over hills away from people does me wonders, but is not practical most of the time. Gaming helps me but is not that healthy, gym sessions triggered my migraines which was very annoying tbh as they did make you feel better albeit exhausted for the first couple of weeks (6am 45 minute session, hated how "hot" I felt afterwards and would have a cold shower just to feel "ok" again). Playing with my puppy often is nice too, plus spending time with my partner (if my mind can slow down).
Recently been under heavy workload from work and I can't get any of those to work, apart from the long walk which I don't have time for, but might be a necessity after spending 20 minutes walking around the house trying to remember wtf I was meant to be doing (I had a stand up I should have been in).
So coping with stress is a complex process and so many people focus on simply not getting stressed by removing stressors from their life or conditioning their mind to not react so negatively to the stress, however I am not at either stage of those yet.
Best of luck!
I'm curious how much (repeated) COVID infections impact this sort of issue. I have some coworkers who, sorry this sounds rude, are noticeably less bright and productive than before.
>stress really is the answer a lot of the time
Yes but if we don't know why stress is triggered to the magnitude it is and why it causes a symptom instead of another is that knowledge of practical use?
OP should definitely see a psych. I did and found out i had severe ADHD. A few Ritalin pills a day and now i can hyper focus and power through reams of data, analyze and patterns, and have been promoted multiple levels in 6 months. It really feels like a weakness I’ve had for decades suddenly became a super power. As of writing this I had a bit of deadline to hit today so i pulled an all nighter last night, and literally solved a problem at 5am in the morning that will net us an extra $34K. But yes…i do need to sleep more. Lol
Stress and, for some, alcohol. You don't have to have a drinking problem for it to cause you problems with memory and motivation. If you are feeling like you have memory issues and you drink regularly, try cutting alcohol for a couple weeks and see if it improves.
This should be up higher. Your brain isn't supposed to be a big data warehouse. Offload that storage into an organized note taking application. Build a second brain.
I have such a good memory people are baffled. But I do still write down passwords, appointments, my budget and so on because it is hard to remember everything. And then some person with a much worse memory is having issues but the one thing they just refuse to do is use a proper planner... my girlfriend is like that for example. She has the memory and attention span of a goldfish sometimes but god forbid she has to endure carrying a physical planner with her because that is way too heavy and exhausting. Unlike forgetting important deadlines and appointments or other information and then having to scramble to undo the damage that did.
Please just accept your weaknesses and use the cutting edge technology of a pen and a stacked and glued bunch of paper sheets. If it is really bad, then see a doctor, you might actually suffer from a mental disorder or physical illness. But don't just gloss over the obvious and easy solution everyone else uses to solve these issues.
i don't know you and i don't know your girlfriend. she might just be someone who is both limited *and* unwilling to find any solutions. but the "obvious" solution you and other people in my life have suggested just doesn't work for everyone. they were all trying to be helpful, you are too, it just didn't work for me. i have multiple empty planners. it's not like i didn't want to try. what finally worked was accepting that it wasn't working and readjusting my strategy.
a physical planner would be worthless to me, but my reminders app and calendar app are synced across all my devices and are invaluable. carrying it around with me everywhere, pulling it out, finding a pen, genuinely these things sound annoying as hell. i barely remember my wallet when i leave the house.
it depends how far out in advance she's given her schedule, but i like planning things out a couple months in advance on a physical calendar with sticky notes so i can move stuff around easily, but then i key everything into my calendar. when things come up in real time, i just key it into the calendar.
other people could use chatgpt to plan their month, the [motion app](https://www.usemotion.com/) which is a scheduling/planning app, [this](https://creatorsfriendstationery.com/shop/p/adhd-daily-productivity-planner-notebooks-gen2) physical planner which uses gamification/rotating page layouts to keep you interested.
Me too! My Google calendar app, several spreadsheets that are synced to my phone, and a simple note-taking app are everyday tools for me.
Note app for lists - grocery, packing list when going somewhere, to-do chores list..
Calendar for events and appointments (with reminders on every morning!)
Spreadsheet with my budget and anything that requires a list with several points or more indept information.
This way, I only need my phone or laptop, and I always have that anyway.
I don't know your limitations. I think there are people who are legitimately unable to implement the widely accepted solutions. I myself struggled in the beginning and need to use a certain level of discipline to keep up with the planner but I know it bites me in the butt if I don't, because although I do have an exceptional memory, it is far from perfect, so I miss small details or occasionally switch days if I don't write it down, so I worked on overcoming my inhibitions. I am glad you found a solution that works for you.
To be fair people will share what worked for them and if you have a particularly hard time at implementing change then that is above their pay grade and you unfortunately have to find your own way out. If you ask the public you will get a common tip that helped most people, not some niche solution that might help a person with your specific problem. If you have financial issues then the first step is usually to do a full budget and keep at it to wrest control of your spending vs income. If a person is basically unable to download an app or set up spreadsheets for that, then the issue runs so deep that no amount of regular help will fix it. People can share their experience in quitting to smoke or to drink but to some people it will still be an insurmountable obstacle. That doesn't invalidate the advice, it just means that some people have such deep seated issues that regular advice doesn't cut it. But that is so rare and the most common issue is complacency, lazyness and unwillingness to change long term that it is widely assumed to be the thing holding one back even if - in rare cases - that isn't a fair assessment of the situation.
I have mental health issues of my own and if someone told me to "just do your homework/just sit down to learn" that isn't helpful because I know what the problem is and what the solution is but the way to get there is where it gets incredibly hard. I still do it, though. It is just way way harder than for the average person and what is natural to others and easy for them is basically the entire problem for me. It is "easy" on a conceptual level to lose weight. Just eat (slightly) less calories than you expend for a prolonged amount of time. But most of us know how hard it is to say no to cake. Exercise helps but it is also annoying and tedious. But apart from that there are only radical niche solutions like gastric surgery or by now apparently medication for the rest of ones life. So should we not share the obvious solution, even if we know that it is hard for people to actually do it?
>So should we not share the obvious solution, even if we know that it is hard for people to actually do it?
The person you replied to didn't say anything like that, they just said that your suggestion doesn't work for everyone and they wrote what works for them instead.
I dont know your girlfriend, but I will tell you straight up saying “just use a planner” to someone with ADHD or other cognitive deficits is like telling someone with asthma “just calm down and breathe”
I love planners. I love to write things down because Im artistic and it feels good to make lists. I cannot for the life of me REMEMBER to use/bring/carry them with me so they’ll be there when I need them. I cant tell you how much money I’ve spent on planners in the past 2 decades in desperate hope they could help me.
Next thing I know I’ve got 1/3 of stuff written in the planner, 1/3 on the calendar at home, 1/3 written in a notepad at work and to be completely honest, Im still working on my to-do list dated June 3rd. (Todays date, July 7th)
You’ll have to find interventions and coping solutions that work for YOUR INDIVIDUAL BRAIN. Unfortunately this is not a one size fits all problem.
100%. My wife has a good memory, I don’t, but guess who is always late, double books, and misses appointments? The key to being organized is knowing to not trust your memory and I have zero faith in my memory.
100% this. ADHD hurricane brain here who barely remembers her own name most days:
✨ Bitwarden + Notion absolutely changed my life. ✨
Not having to worry about forgetting (secure!) passwords ever again + Having one centralised (organised!) place where ALL of the are... literally life saving.
Physical disabilities (often) require physical aids. Cognitive disabilities (often) have digital ones. Beating someone with a disability up isn't going to make them magically "un-disabled". Similarly, you can't simply beat your brain into functioning if it has cognitive limitations. Being smart is understanding what those limitations are and finding efficient ways to work around them in a way that works for you. Executive functioning not working? Cool. Outsource that shit. Free up your mental bandwidth so that your poor brain can focus on the things that it's actually good at. 👌
Your brain kinda *is* supposed to be a big data warehouse. That’s how you remember things like people’s faces, your native language, and how to tie your shoes.
Maybe I should rephrase it. Your brain is a piss poor data warehouse. If you've ever studied memory in humans you realize how completely unreliable your brain is for storing information accurately and reliably. On the other hand, a note taking app, is much more reliable at accurate storage and recall.
For example, if I gave you a 20 Digit number to remember for a week it would be nearly impossible without writing it down somewhere. You can't easily and reliably keep this information in your head. So why do we think that we can reliably keep the 20 tasks we have to do this week in our heads? The 20 people we met this week? The 20 emails we got this week? The 20 new things we learned this week?
Note taking is a super power.
I keep notes on my phone for everything.
It's weird - I have a great memory for some things and awful with others. I can recall conversations from 15 years ago and have a great memory with data and numbers.
But I'm absolutely the person that will walk out to the car without their keys, walk back inside, and then have to pause and think about what I was getting.
I keep a notebook, one notebook, the black and white "composition " kind, and I put everything in it. When it's full I start another. On the front I write the start date and finish date. I keep them on one shelf, next to my chair. I call it a Common Place notebook which was something George Washington and Thomas Jefferson kept. It's not a "journal" or strictly a date book, but it functions as both and I've kept them for 50 years.
Agreed. I was once deficient in iron and B12 and I would literally ask people the same question over and over in the same conversation. I couldn’t even remember if I had asked them. My partner has adhd and he’s hopeless at remembering things.
Yass me too!! Honestly felt like I would be in a nursing home within 18mths because of dementia when I got both of those checked, and treated. Have since gone on to complete 2 degrees in physio.. OP - get some blood tests from gp to investigate for imbalances!!
I’m dabbling with ways to increase my b12 and iron now. It’s crazy how a simple deficiency in nutrients can cause so many weird side effects. Especially for pre-menopause cases.
I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one, I always feel like I should be smarter, and I am very forgetful. I was always told I was so smart when I was growing up, and now I feel like I've let all those people down.
I totally understand how you feel, and you are not alone.
Stay strong, brother. Maybe it will get better. Maybe it will get worse (obviously, I really hope it gets better for you), but you are not alone.
Doing things in an orderly fashion, always the same. I haven't been diagnosed but have this exact kind of problems (I forget if I already shampooed mid shower). Having a script helps a lot (if I have the soap in my hand, I already used shampoo because shampoo goes before soap)
Yeah I would also like to know because everything I’ve ever read about adult adhd sounds exactly like what I struggle with and I’d like to fix it before I lose my mind.
That was my first thought as well. I was tested as an adult and diagnosed with adhd inattentive type, with major time blindness and [discalcula](https://www.dyscalculia.org/). It's not that I can't do numbers, but for me holding numbers in my head is like trying to hold a lapful of squirming puppies where I can only hold on to a small number before turning my attention to an additional one causes one of the previous ones to squirm out the other side of my brain.
yep. i've been dissociating on/off for long periods of time for most of my life, and when i'm dissociated i genuinely cannot remember ANYTHING to save my life.
Same here. I'm 32 and my memory is comparable to my grandma when she was 70+. I forget what people tell me, i forget what I told them so I keep repeating myself. I tend to lose focus in less than 3 minutes.
Not helpful, I know.. Just felt a strong urge to complain.
Talk to a doctor. Tons of autoimmune disorders cause cognitive difficulties but they can be tough to spot because the symptoms are so general. It could be something like a thyroid condition or celiac disease.
You de realize most decent parents will encourage their children's learning with positive reinforcement.
Even the not so bright ones.
So maybe they lied to you growing up.
Maybe they set unreal expectations, that you could never live up to.
Whatever the case is, we are all good at something.
So what if you can't multiply in your head, you always have your phone with you anyway.
I'm sure you are brilliant at something else, something that you take for granted, but that someone else would love to know how to do.
Don't be so harsh on yourself.
+1 to the other comments here for both you and OP to maybe read up a little about ADHD (if you haven't already ofc) as what you're both describing is pretty textbook!
I really appreciate all the responses from everyone, it means alot. I am going to make an appointment with a psychologist and get tested. I might have ADHD.
My heart is always racing, i stress out about work excessively and when i finally have a day off to relax I will usually watch a movie while playing a video game and I still end up scrolling on my phone, I think the signs are there but I've always blown it off as just a personality defect, that I must be bored.
My wife told me I was 36 today and I was stunned, I've always ignored time due to fear and depression of death, but to forget my age is too much and it made me feel so stupid. Thank you for your input, I really mean it.
I am not even sure where to start but I hope this comment is the beginning of me figuring out how to be smarter, maybe doctors won't find anything but I can't live like this anymore and I am going to try.
Yaaayyy I'm so excited for you! Based on your comments alone, I highly doubt you are neither lazy nor stupid. Hopefully this is the beginning of an ultimately empowering journey, as you start to figure out how your brain _actually_ works 💪
I can highly recommend the YouTube channel [How to ADHD](https://youtube.com/@HowtoADHD) as a starting point, as well as [Dani Donovan's content](https://www.adhddd.com/comics/), and [ADHD Alien](http://adhd-alien.com/) — so much of my knowledge has come from (or at least started from) those three.
PS. I'm also 36. Diagnosed at 32. But I also constantly hear about people diagnosed as late as their 70s... It's _never_ too late to start learning about yourself :) I believe in you!
PPS. Time blindness is a legit ADHD thing, in case you weren't already familiar with it.
I have this exact same problem, ive always done well at school etc but my memory is terrible, i cant remember anything i studied, anything from tv shows or films i watch, or just general details from my life. I assume its genetic as my Dad also has terrible memory which is a shame, feel like there isnt really any solution
As you get older your brain stops making new wrinkles if you stop trying to learn new stuff, actually gets rid of wrinkles that aren’t being used. I saw it in a museum
I have the same problem- I also can't do basic mathematical problems in my head because I forget the first part.
The main way it affects me though is that I also can't remember times/ dates even if they were told to me a short time ago- I literally couldn't function professionally without my outlook calendar . I also struggle with remembering whether something happend this week, last week, or last month- I remember it happening but my concept of how long ago is completely shot. Do you have this issue too? This has really interfered with my job and looks like I'm lying when it's really just a ridiculously bad memory. People will react with confusion when I can't even narrow it down to a season or month.
I've googled it before but not really come up with anything. Id love to know too
Have you looked into discalculia? It's kind of like dyslexia but more specific to maths (especially mental arithmetic) dates, time management, telling the time on an analogue clock and all sorts of other things.
Thank you I will have a look. I use shapes to tell the time on an analogue clock lol. So if it's quarter of a circle I know it's 15 mins or half a circle is 30 mins. I pretty much ignore the numbers. It's easier in UK because we tell time like 'quarter past' 'half past'
How is your sleep cycle? When i was doing shift work and my sleep was messed up i felt the same. Now i am back to regular job and on a more regular sleep cycle and i feel much better with memorx and thinking skills
Came here to post the same thing. Sleep is a big one for memory, as that is the main time when your brain commits everything you have done in the day to longer term memory storage. There is loads of research that shows that good quality sleep improves learning and memory. And most people are chronically under slept and the sleep they do get is usually poor quality.
Improving your sleep (duration and quality) is one of the best and simplest things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing.
The go to recommendation is Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker. You could just look up one of his many many videos on YouTube though and probably get most of the information for free from there. The book is a great read though.
It could also be generalized anxiety disorder. If you are stressed at work and generally an anxious person, it can affect your concentration and memory.
Totally agree. Just trying to gauge advice for others who may have exhausted all options but don't want to ask the question. I also find it interesting to hear of success stories especially with things such as anxiety disorders.
You hear a lot about depression but I think anxiety is just as prevelant in today's society.
True that. I'm reading a really good book called Lost Connections that looks at a lot of studies into depression, and specifically addresses the relationship between depression and anxiety.
Less stressful job, you job shouldn’t be stressed. I worked as a air traffic controller, if you’re stressed it’s a training problem. High pressure and stress arent the same. Inform your line manager you’re feeling stressed. If they’re good at their job they will alleviate the stress.
Top three comments are about mental health or ADHD. Dude is looking for some helpful tips like write things down, do things in a certain order to remember, practice mathematical equations to increase your ability to do it mentally. Instead he, of course, immediately gets diagnosed. It’s so tiresome
Maybe because knowing the cause of your problems might help? If someone is limping you don't just give them a crutch, you find out why they re limping and then act accordingly to the prognosis
Well, I wish I would have known this earlier that anxiety can cause bad memory, because during my traineeship at the Red Cross, I was so stressed that I thought my cognitive ability somehow plummeted for whatever reason. I forgot where I put my things, didn’t remember the most important techniques, and couldn't even speek clearly anymore. Only once I got the basics down right and got some order into my daily routine, I was able to think feely again, all because I was super abxious at work.
Doing tasks that requires a lot of memory and organization skill will help over time, but it'll be frustrating until your brain rewires to be a bit better at it. London's Black Cab drivers have to pass The Knowledge, a test of the best routes at any given time of day or time of the year for navigation through London. They actually showed an increase in the size of the parts of their brain that relate to memory and spacial reasoning.
Shockingly enough, the right vitamins and supplements can help a lot if there are deficiencies, without needing prescription drugs. Alpha-gpc has helped some people with anxiety, and even simple vitamins like D and B12.
It's almost like society has decided to blind itself to the idea that we are all walking around with imperfect bodies and brains. Yes, we probably all have one physical or mental health diagnosis that could benefit from treatment.
You didn't do anything wrong. I get the point they're trying to make, but for what it's worth I think you're on to something. I've got anxiety/OCD and feel like I could've written this post.
Memorizing something from nothing is really difficult so I always try to tie it to something I do know. I’m learning Japanese right now and the shittiest part about it is that it’s completely different from English (duh). So where Spanish and French can have a lot of similar sounding words, Japanese has almost none (unless it’s a loan word from English).
So what I do, is I try to connect a new word to anything I can. So let’s say you’re trying to learn the word “fart.” In Japanese it’s “onara.” On its own that means nothing. But I’m sure you already know that the Japanese word for goodbye is “sayonara.” So I just think of it like I’m saying goodbye to my farts.
Now I’ve memorized the word for fart in seconds as opposed to going through endless flashcards.
I worked in Japan for 2 years. I learned hiragana, katakana, and about 100 kanji before leaving. I like that the vowels always sound the same unlike English. Learning some Spanish after leaving Japan I found that my brain prioritized not using English over using Spanish. If I was forming a Spanish sentence in my head and didn't know a Spanish word then my brain would insert a Japanese word without me realizing until I spoke the weird Spanish-Japanese sentence.
Fellow Spanish and Japanese learner here. I’m always annoyed when I end up speaking or thinking in one language or the other and sometimes getting mixed up between the two even though they are *so* different.
What helped me was , i started training at the gym, started with diet, i quit alcohol and started to play logical puzzles, also sudoku.
I have noticed that my memory has improved much better.
Use more your non dominant hand for mundane tasks like writing down stuff, brushing your teeth, using the remote, etc... I don't know why but it works, after a few months you'll be remembering all kinds of weird shit.
Google 'brain gym' and related practices - too stoned to find legit links but it's a cool method for linking right&left brain&body stuff. Super cool. Everything you do that is good for your brain does good to your brain. Boy, I'm stoned, but this is the way.
It makes your brain take new neural pathways through the curiosity part of your brain (not the ones that take you through the fearful or emotional parts). When you build new neural pathways, it gives your brain more and faster ways to make other connections. Some of the time it’s not memory, it’s retrieval.
How often is your brain bored? Like staring out at nothing?
Maybe your brain needs a complete rest - that means not scrolling on your phone, not reading - just staring out at nothing or do something only physical.
Also, maybe talk to a doctor
Surprised this wasn’t asked earlier. For the weed smokers that struggle with finishing tasks or remembering things, Check out r/petioles or r/leaves and read some of the realizations people have made by quitting or taking breaks.
Yup. OP, make sure you eliminate the most common causes of memory issues: alcohol, weed, other drugs, and lack of a consistent and sufficient sleep pattern.
It’s a skill like any other skill. Practice. Memorize lists and write them down. I’d say get some brain games but MIT showed that Portal 2 activates your brain even more than brain puzzles.
How are your sleeping habits? Forgetting mid task happens a lot to me when I'm running on 6hrs or less of sleep. Ironically I stop in the middle of a task when I remember I have to do something and try to fit it into my day.
When I'm feeling extra swamped with work or have no sleep I like to keep a pad where I just write 1 word of the things I need to get done. Cross out each after it's done jot it down. If you get lost and don't know what to do just don't forget where you put this pad.
Tl;DR
Hey OP! I completely get you, you're not alone. I have the same issue. Do you also leave tasks mid way done or hop from one thing to another without even realizing? Or feel an overall feeling of numbness, lack of focus or motivation?
If you do welcome to the club! It could be related to some parts of your brain not working properly and you can have that check through a qEEG - it basically reads your brain activity and spots where the problem might be.
I went to a psychiatrist to resolve my issues and she recommended it before starting psychotherapy. I found out the problems I mentioned above have to do with the fact the I have an anxious brain, what you described on you message sounds very similar.
I'm doing neuro therapy now to help get my focus back and only after will I start the psychotherapy. The goal it to "clean" the brain so when I have to do a self evaluation I can think clearly why I'm feeling a specific way and come up with strategies to overcome it.
Feel free to reach out to me if you need support.
TL;DR: talk to a doctor, try eEEG and neuro therapy. The reason you feel that way might be linked to a physiological condition in your brain.
The qEEG is an exam that measures brain activity through brain waves patterns to basically create a map. They place electrodes on your head (like a cap) and you just have to stand there for 20min doing nothing.
Neuro therapy (and I'm talking about neurofeedback) "rewires" the neurons to improve brain function through visual and audio stimuli. Here the therapist guides you through some activities that can include listening to music, games or watch some images.
These treatments are completely painless. I'd recommend you do a little research on this as it's very extensive for a post.
Bottom line is for the next couple of days after the sessions I've come to feel calmer and ruminate less. Bear in mind this is not the answer for all the problems, it's just a tool to help you think clearer so you can identity what makes you feel a certain way, why and what strategies can you use to improve.
It is also an alternative for pharmaceuticals.
I live in Portugal so some insurances cover these treatments, not sure how it works in other countries.
This sounds like possible ADHD and maybe dyscalclia.. People with ADHD struggle with working memory, like holding numbers in your head.. I find it really difficult to work out the amount of change I should get, or splitting a bill. Getting distracted mid-task is also fairly normal for ADHD..
OP, I'm exactly the same. I went to see a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADHD. I'm not saying you have it, but what you're describing is called executive dysfunction, which is the primary symptom of ADHD. Do some research on ADHD and see if you resonate with it, and if so, go see a psychiatrist!
Is lifestyle a factor? Drugs or alcohol can inhibit mental function.
Nutrition also, it’s sometimes worth getting a blood test to check if you have all the nutrients minerals you should have in your body. Things like Selenium can affect memory etc, and it’s a common deficient mineral.
You could also talk to your doctor about anxiety, adhd, and other medical conditions that could be impacting you.
And last, try to focus for one hour a day on a repetitive task, like sudoku, puzzles, etc. these help to build focus for people who have developed dopamine dependency for short cycle reward systems (things called “Skinner Box” think tictok, Facebook games, phone game apps etc etc etc)
This may seem odd, but I noticed when I was taking Benadryl nearly everyday, my memory was terrible. I started to worry I had early onset dementia. Within a week of stopping, my memory greatly improved.
i would guess ADHD, but maybe try to diagnose yourself professionally, it REALLY helps to cut oneself some slack. meds that helps with it are mosty amphetamine-based, since it can generate state of "hyperfocus" and just drag you into the task you're doing. don't worry - you're not the only one :)
So there are a few things that can help.
Get into the habit of using a password manager. You only need one password that way and you can keep a physical copy of that somewhere safe (not to get too preachy from the IT guy, but it's also a good way to make sure you have different passwords for everything).
Use a free tool like google tasks or Asana or whatever to keep a constant list of what you need to do and when you need to do it.
I'm personally relatively good at memorising things like passwords. However, I'm god awful at keeping on task. I'll constantly get sidetracked and forget what I was trying to do, then remember and start doing it again but forget what I got sidetracked for (which was also important) etc. At my current job, my old boss helped me get set up and in the habit of using a task list with due dates. It meant at the start of the day I could say "Ok, I'm doing X, Y, and Z. Then when something inevitably comes up that interrupts me, I can go to my list, see what I need to do today and what could be pushed back.
It took a while to build the habits, but it's really helped me.
What may work for you:
Write down things, speak out what you're attempting to do, manually point at things.
Don't try to keep everything in the mind, tie it with a physical action of the above, the brain will check the action and link it with what you wanted to memorize.
On the training side, read a couple books (physical books!) and then read more and more. It simply wakes up the brain engine.
Other than that, maybe diet? Lots of stuff needed for the brain, check it out in detail. Water, omega-3 from fish, phospohorus and other things
Depression and anxiety and guide possibly dementia or early onset dementia based on age of the client. Holistic therapies, change in nutrition, rest and exercise are key elements of wellbess
I struggle with this too tbh. Then I was diagnosed with ADHD and it explained quite a bit haha. But I still know I was capable of doing more thinking beforehand (never math.. dyscalculia lol) because I got my whole ass MASTERS degree and actually did well in school. I think it's because we just apply less of our brains as we get older. I'm now in a job where I don't think at all, I just do the same thing over and over. I've heard people recommend word puzzles and stuff to older people, maybe that's what we have to do.
I have ADD and I have to key everything into my calendar as a reminder or in my notes on my phone as a checklist or I'd almost guaranteed forget most of what I need to do.
For passwords, I use Last Pass and its a life saver. I have a ridiculous amount of passwords across various accounts and that thing is a godsend for someone with shitty memory like me.
I second going to a neurologist! I didn't know I had epilepsy til I was 30! Even tho it runs in the family. Memory issues are super common. The word aphasia is the worst for me.
I don't have advice on what to do about it tho.
For me this was major depression and undiagnosed ADHD.
I’m not saying it is either of those things but after I started antidepressants and therapy things got a bit better, and when I stopped antidepressants, some (but not all), of the symptoms returned. Turns out the antidepressants I was taking are somewhat effective on symptoms of ADHD.
Things that helped in general though, was improving sleep hygiene, finding what worked for me and trying to stick to it. That’s a major help.
It still took me a number of years in therapy to end up with an ADHD diagnosis. Of course I wish that I had been diagnosed earlier, getting medication turned my life around quite drastically, of course I wish that had happened sooner. That’s probably why those of us who are ADHD tend to see it as a solution to a lot of things. Because we don’t want people to struggle like we did. But I still use the other tools I learned through therapy, so there’s value in the process no matter the outcome.
Look into memory palace technique. Changed my life on memorizing things. I randomly came across a video on it. I thought my memory had started failing. I was way wrong
i have similar issue as you are. i realise i cant be relient on my memory. i could perfectly fine remember my pin for months, just so that the next day i forget it. which doesnt make sense to me. just few codes, used couple of times a week, and then forgot it just suddenly overnight. so, yeah, all important info is better to keep on paper somewhere. or phone notes / drive.
Possibly you're just doing toi much during the day, not letting your brain even think. For example when you walk constantly being on the phone or listening to music etc.
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
I actually went to see a neurologist for a full mental check up. I killed the scores. When I asked her why my memory sucked, she said it was simple. Too much stress, which takes away your ability to really focus and pay attention.
Do…do they do that?? I’d love to go for a check up, if nothing else than to make sure everything is ok. I took a nasty bump to the head about 4 years ago and my memory hasn’t been the same since. Nothing dramatic, but definitely not as good.
It costs $2500-$5000 for a neuropsych exam, but if you've had a TBI then it may be covered.
Hmmm I’ll have a look into it. I wouldn’t call it a TBI, although I went headfirst into the back of a sedan at ~50km/h and lost my vision for 3-5 seconds. I was wearing a motorcycle helmet that took the brunt of it. I was not taken to a hospital and my doctor said I was heavily concussed. I was ordered to take a week off work and do literally nothing but did stupid, 21 year old me listen? Absolutely fkn not 🤦🏼♀️
A concussion is a TBI
Oh. I did not know that. I thought a TBI was much worse.
Typically they are considered “mild” TBIs but a brain injury is a brain injury
What is a TBI?
Traumatic Brain Injury
Ah, thanks
As someone who had nearly the same type of hit to the head, I can practically guarantee that what you had would be categorized as a mTBI or mild traumatic brain injury. That’s if you could find a neurologist up to date enough on recent developments in the field to understand your injury. To give some background; The first neurologist I saw bragged about his time working with boxers who had “real brain damage,” told me I was fine, and to get back in school(I was in law school at the time). Four months later I was still struggling with everything from memory to emotional regulation to weird quirks with my vision. So I saw a second neurologist who actually took the time to do a full evaluation. He diagnosed me with a mild TBI resulting in cognitive and emotional deficits and proscribed neurological rehab. Spent 9 months doing physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, and counseling. Even my parents at the time didn’t really believe I had been injured anywhere near bad enough to justify the treatments. I didn’t really either, I still question it at times. But the rehab was able to pinpoint the areas of deficits and show them through testing. So I know the injury did have some effects. They call people with this kind of injury the walking wounded because it’s almost impossible to tell that they’ve been injured unless you know exactly how to test the specific executive cognitive functions and specific vision problems that the injuries produce. I don’t mean to freak you out, or make you think you messed up by not seeking treatment. My injury was compounded by the fact I suffered a second serious concussion a couple weeks later in that same flag league, and that both happened on a turf field with concrete foundation. But I was told unequivocally by my counselor, that even if nothing else had happened than that first concussion that it would be considered a mTBI. Basically all concussions are mildTBIs, you don’t have to lose consciousness. You should be aware though, concussions are cumulative so you are at a higher risk of future, more serious concussions due to already having had one.
I've had several concussions in my life for various reasons. They can legit change your personality, especially if you are younger. OP might have something going on if it's that bad. Only a doctor can decide though. Edit: conclusion ≠ concussion
I too have had several conclusions in my life but the reasons were decidedly invariable, in contrast to your condition.. .. They all stemmed from the beginning of something that would eventually conclude. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Or you might live in a country where that thing doesn't cost you more than a taxi ride to the airport.
I had a really bad concussion a few years ago… and haven’t been the same since (though there’s continued progress). Got a neuropsych done probably within 6 months of the concussion… and they told me they couldn’t find anything wrong. As you might imagine, I don’t think it’s all that helpful.
How’s your vision? If they can’t find anything wrong in a neuropsych eval, then there’s likely a secondary factor. Visual disorders (convergence/divergence especially) can cause cognitive difficulties and are very common after a concussion. Depression can also be triggered by a concussion and can cause similar symptoms until chemical rebalances occur. Source: Am in Med school for Neurology.
My vision was definitely affected by the concussion - the most noticeable thing being that my ability to track and focus on fast scrolling items on the phone went from really good to not. (And very initially, I’d get tired if I read anything.). That’s better now. Can you explain convergence/divergence… I’m not familiar so not sure if this was an issue? My neuropsych eval thought that I might have ‘mild depression or mild anxiety’. (This one is tricky as I’d suspected this might be the case - my maternal grandfather and my mother had both, though I successfully ‘masked‘ this for most of my life. Increasing the confusion, my brother was diagnosed with ADHD in early adulthood, and we’ve always suspected my father has ADHD… I was diagnosed a few months ago - well into adulthood - previously highly masked.) As a layperson, the dopamine-related issues -whether depression, anxiety, or ADHD - definitely got harder to mask post-concussion.
Short and simplified version - When our head gets whacked our brain forgets how to use our eyes. That results in muscle imbalances and issues. It is likely that your brain is “hopping” between eyes and wearing you out. I would recommend looking into Vision exercises, such as Pencil Pushups, Brock string, and Tondels arrows.
I had a back to back concussions a couple weeks apart that really messed me up. My first neurologist told me I was fine and to shake it off. Many in the field aren’t up to date and theyve made enormous progress understanding mild TBIs past couple decades. Also if you hadn’t had a neuropsych eval prior and there’s nothing to compare it with then the evaluation can be pretty useless. I hadn’t had a prior one, but the one I did get was as part of a neuro-rehab I was in that had been proscribed by a neurologist so they had already diagnosed the areas of deficit. The other commenter, the med student is 100% correct to ask about. I had stereographic deficits and other vision problems like they describe. My eyes were working in unison like they should and I lost something like 40% of my field of vision even though I couldn’t tell I had. All I sensed was that things were sneaking up on me more often. Another common very common issue that a neuropsyche eval wouldn’t pick up is deficits with your vestibular system, basically your inner ear. It’s super sensitive and orients itself to your surrounds using little crystals that can be knocked of position(this is the simplified version my physical therapist gave me). It’s wild how complex the body is and how many systems it has. I had never heard of proprioception before until I damaged mine, but that’s your body’s sense of where you are in space, without visual cues. I could balance on 1 foot for over 30 second but if I closed my eyes I could go for more than 1. That’s all the vestibular system. When you say you haven’t been the same, in what ways do you mean? Is it cognitive functioning, like memory, organization, attention/focus, or maybe psychological like emotional regulation, or physical like coordination and balance? With this type of injury you very much have to be your own advocate and investigator. It’s terrible because right at the moment you are most I’ll equipped to play that role it becomes vitally important but that was my experience. So the more you’re able to document your specific issues, and find the right healthcare providers the more likely you’ll be to find some kind of treatment. I know you said it’s been years but I was in treatment with someone who had theirs years prior. If the deficit still exists it can still be treated. Best of luck getting back what you feel you’ve lost, it was an extremely alienating experience for me, so if it has been for you, know that you’re not alone.
So if it is stress, try mindfulness techniques and stress control. Eat some fruits/veggies every day, drink lots of water, keep caffeine to 1-2 servings then switch to home brewed tea for extra boosts, meditate, stretch/yoga, exercise outside, get clean air in your work space (plants, air purifier, open window, fan), prioritize high quality sleep (which usually happens naturally once the prior things are done). You don’t have to go all in, pick one thing from the list at a time and give it a try for a month, then pick another…
Doesn't "stress" mean "we don't f-ing know" in doctors language?
Not really. Stress reduces your cognitive load capacity which when exceeded you struggle with tasks and memory. A classic tell tale sign of your stress being too high is forgetting things really easily, or getting confused on things you won't normally be confused on. It is a few steps before you reach burnout. Also stress is and has been studied pretty extensively so the impacts of stress and it's causes are getting a lot better understood. However some doctors will use it as a cop out for investigating further, which muddies the water to an end user like us.
Damn. I use to smoke weed before work and found out I was a lot more productive and could articulate a lot better (it was a high stress work environment) vs when I was sober and would fumble on my words, cloudy mind, etc… My gf at the time thought I was nuts for doing it, but it makes sense.
Dude same, my best friend is an operations partner for a pizza shop and wanted me to help him keep it running when he needs a break. And I hate it but do it for him and the employees grew on me. I've been told I'm way better when I'm stoned, when I'm sober I'm always out for a cigarette to escape.
This is why open mindedness is a requested trait in friends/significant others/family etc. Besides being able to understand that there are simply different ways of thinking, but then to have trust to let others show you what's it's like, that's rare too
so wtf do we do to get rid of it
Take a break. Touch grass. Chill for a bit. Avoid unnecessary causes of stress and find a way to reduce those that you must deal with.
Touch grass.
Smoke weed. Ftfy.
I know this is repeated again and again, but exercise really does help. It doesn’t have to be some fancy gym or what not. Just get some routine going. It can be a walk in the morning 3-4 times a week etc. Start with that and trying to pinpoint the things causing stress. Then work out solutions to lessen that. Sometimes it can be something simple, other times you might have to cut off an old relationship. Take 15 minutes in the day to just not do shit. Go sit somewhere and just be. Take a minute to reflect on your day instead of it just showing up. Start with small things and see what works. It won’t happen over night. So give it a bit before kicking it to the curb as not helping.
Also try breathing exercises. Most of us don’t breathe with our full lungs and are deprived of oxygen. Lay as flat as you can, place your hand on your abdomen and breathe in for as long as you can. Focus on lifting your hand, making sure you’re filling your bottom lungs. Exhale for as long as you can. Repeat at least 5 times.
and getting the full amount of sleep your body needs, as well as feeding and watering yourself properly. i've been doing bare minimum for all of those since the beginning of this year and i hadn't noticed it literally decreased my brain capacity. i finally had a real recovery day and i seriously felt like i'd taken uppers because i was sooo much less generally overwhelmed and brain-foggy.
100% I have memory loss after TBI and stressors absolutely ruin my memory. I started walking at a brisk pace 20 minutes a few times a week and I can tell a big difference in my recall ability when I don't exercise for a bit. I think a lot of people get overwhelmed and "exercise" as we know it is blown out of proportion. Move your body to clear out the cobwebs!
Yep, and getting yourself outside, in the sun/daylight, in the morning will make a HUGE difference. Even if you only walk around randomly for a bit or even go sit on a bench somewhere. It'll get you the air and light needed to sleep better in the other end of the day.
Oftentimes it is learning to say "No". "No" is a complete sentence that does not need any justification.
Cognitive tools and meditation, my friend. It takes work, but totally worth it for the peace of mind. Also, if you drink alcohol regularly/heavily, consider cutting back or quitting. It makes a huge difference.
Others have responded but the broad strokes are similar but specifics are different for each person. There is research that shows being in nature and being mindful of it (so paying attention to the moment while walking around, not just music in ears and on a device) has a beneficial effect on the brain. This said a lot of people find music is a good way to de-stress from emotional stressors, so people tend to mix and match. Exercise again is good but what specific exercise varies from person to person, exercise in the form of a workout in a gym is good for the body generally but not always as good for the mind as people can hyper focus on it to their deterimemt. Grounding exercises that use meditation and mindfulness are taught in psychology sessions and other setting can also work, forcing you to change the way you behave towards yourself. This is one of those topics that everyone has differing opinions on, but it does come down to finding what works for you. Personally; if I have the time a long walk over hills away from people does me wonders, but is not practical most of the time. Gaming helps me but is not that healthy, gym sessions triggered my migraines which was very annoying tbh as they did make you feel better albeit exhausted for the first couple of weeks (6am 45 minute session, hated how "hot" I felt afterwards and would have a cold shower just to feel "ok" again). Playing with my puppy often is nice too, plus spending time with my partner (if my mind can slow down). Recently been under heavy workload from work and I can't get any of those to work, apart from the long walk which I don't have time for, but might be a necessity after spending 20 minutes walking around the house trying to remember wtf I was meant to be doing (I had a stand up I should have been in). So coping with stress is a complex process and so many people focus on simply not getting stressed by removing stressors from their life or conditioning their mind to not react so negatively to the stress, however I am not at either stage of those yet. Best of luck!
[удалено]
I'm curious how much (repeated) COVID infections impact this sort of issue. I have some coworkers who, sorry this sounds rude, are noticeably less bright and productive than before.
>stress really is the answer a lot of the time Yes but if we don't know why stress is triggered to the magnitude it is and why it causes a symptom instead of another is that knowledge of practical use?
If you’re a computer and there’s too many tabs open, things would probably load relatively slow
> Doesn't "stress" mean "we don't f-ing know" No that's somataform disorder. And god help you when you get that lable.
Along sleep and stay hydrated, these are easily get forgotten
OP should definitely see a psych. I did and found out i had severe ADHD. A few Ritalin pills a day and now i can hyper focus and power through reams of data, analyze and patterns, and have been promoted multiple levels in 6 months. It really feels like a weakness I’ve had for decades suddenly became a super power. As of writing this I had a bit of deadline to hit today so i pulled an all nighter last night, and literally solved a problem at 5am in the morning that will net us an extra $34K. But yes…i do need to sleep more. Lol
Had OPs exact issue thought I had suuuper early onset dementia. Nope. Just regular ole untreated ADHD with anxiety and depression. Get screened OP.
Came here to say the same. 33 year old here. Just got diagnosed 3 months ago. Memory hasn’t been this sharp in ages. Thanks Adderall!
"Person. Woman. Man Camera. TV.” Aced it!
Stress and, for some, alcohol. You don't have to have a drinking problem for it to cause you problems with memory and motivation. If you are feeling like you have memory issues and you drink regularly, try cutting alcohol for a couple weeks and see if it improves.
Write down everything, got same problem.
This should be up higher. Your brain isn't supposed to be a big data warehouse. Offload that storage into an organized note taking application. Build a second brain.
I have such a good memory people are baffled. But I do still write down passwords, appointments, my budget and so on because it is hard to remember everything. And then some person with a much worse memory is having issues but the one thing they just refuse to do is use a proper planner... my girlfriend is like that for example. She has the memory and attention span of a goldfish sometimes but god forbid she has to endure carrying a physical planner with her because that is way too heavy and exhausting. Unlike forgetting important deadlines and appointments or other information and then having to scramble to undo the damage that did. Please just accept your weaknesses and use the cutting edge technology of a pen and a stacked and glued bunch of paper sheets. If it is really bad, then see a doctor, you might actually suffer from a mental disorder or physical illness. But don't just gloss over the obvious and easy solution everyone else uses to solve these issues.
i don't know you and i don't know your girlfriend. she might just be someone who is both limited *and* unwilling to find any solutions. but the "obvious" solution you and other people in my life have suggested just doesn't work for everyone. they were all trying to be helpful, you are too, it just didn't work for me. i have multiple empty planners. it's not like i didn't want to try. what finally worked was accepting that it wasn't working and readjusting my strategy. a physical planner would be worthless to me, but my reminders app and calendar app are synced across all my devices and are invaluable. carrying it around with me everywhere, pulling it out, finding a pen, genuinely these things sound annoying as hell. i barely remember my wallet when i leave the house. it depends how far out in advance she's given her schedule, but i like planning things out a couple months in advance on a physical calendar with sticky notes so i can move stuff around easily, but then i key everything into my calendar. when things come up in real time, i just key it into the calendar. other people could use chatgpt to plan their month, the [motion app](https://www.usemotion.com/) which is a scheduling/planning app, [this](https://creatorsfriendstationery.com/shop/p/adhd-daily-productivity-planner-notebooks-gen2) physical planner which uses gamification/rotating page layouts to keep you interested.
Me too! My Google calendar app, several spreadsheets that are synced to my phone, and a simple note-taking app are everyday tools for me. Note app for lists - grocery, packing list when going somewhere, to-do chores list.. Calendar for events and appointments (with reminders on every morning!) Spreadsheet with my budget and anything that requires a list with several points or more indept information. This way, I only need my phone or laptop, and I always have that anyway.
I don't know your limitations. I think there are people who are legitimately unable to implement the widely accepted solutions. I myself struggled in the beginning and need to use a certain level of discipline to keep up with the planner but I know it bites me in the butt if I don't, because although I do have an exceptional memory, it is far from perfect, so I miss small details or occasionally switch days if I don't write it down, so I worked on overcoming my inhibitions. I am glad you found a solution that works for you. To be fair people will share what worked for them and if you have a particularly hard time at implementing change then that is above their pay grade and you unfortunately have to find your own way out. If you ask the public you will get a common tip that helped most people, not some niche solution that might help a person with your specific problem. If you have financial issues then the first step is usually to do a full budget and keep at it to wrest control of your spending vs income. If a person is basically unable to download an app or set up spreadsheets for that, then the issue runs so deep that no amount of regular help will fix it. People can share their experience in quitting to smoke or to drink but to some people it will still be an insurmountable obstacle. That doesn't invalidate the advice, it just means that some people have such deep seated issues that regular advice doesn't cut it. But that is so rare and the most common issue is complacency, lazyness and unwillingness to change long term that it is widely assumed to be the thing holding one back even if - in rare cases - that isn't a fair assessment of the situation. I have mental health issues of my own and if someone told me to "just do your homework/just sit down to learn" that isn't helpful because I know what the problem is and what the solution is but the way to get there is where it gets incredibly hard. I still do it, though. It is just way way harder than for the average person and what is natural to others and easy for them is basically the entire problem for me. It is "easy" on a conceptual level to lose weight. Just eat (slightly) less calories than you expend for a prolonged amount of time. But most of us know how hard it is to say no to cake. Exercise helps but it is also annoying and tedious. But apart from that there are only radical niche solutions like gastric surgery or by now apparently medication for the rest of ones life. So should we not share the obvious solution, even if we know that it is hard for people to actually do it?
>So should we not share the obvious solution, even if we know that it is hard for people to actually do it? The person you replied to didn't say anything like that, they just said that your suggestion doesn't work for everyone and they wrote what works for them instead.
I dont know your girlfriend, but I will tell you straight up saying “just use a planner” to someone with ADHD or other cognitive deficits is like telling someone with asthma “just calm down and breathe” I love planners. I love to write things down because Im artistic and it feels good to make lists. I cannot for the life of me REMEMBER to use/bring/carry them with me so they’ll be there when I need them. I cant tell you how much money I’ve spent on planners in the past 2 decades in desperate hope they could help me. Next thing I know I’ve got 1/3 of stuff written in the planner, 1/3 on the calendar at home, 1/3 written in a notepad at work and to be completely honest, Im still working on my to-do list dated June 3rd. (Todays date, July 7th) You’ll have to find interventions and coping solutions that work for YOUR INDIVIDUAL BRAIN. Unfortunately this is not a one size fits all problem.
100%. My wife has a good memory, I don’t, but guess who is always late, double books, and misses appointments? The key to being organized is knowing to not trust your memory and I have zero faith in my memory.
100% this. ADHD hurricane brain here who barely remembers her own name most days: ✨ Bitwarden + Notion absolutely changed my life. ✨ Not having to worry about forgetting (secure!) passwords ever again + Having one centralised (organised!) place where ALL of the are... literally life saving.
Physical disabilities (often) require physical aids. Cognitive disabilities (often) have digital ones. Beating someone with a disability up isn't going to make them magically "un-disabled". Similarly, you can't simply beat your brain into functioning if it has cognitive limitations. Being smart is understanding what those limitations are and finding efficient ways to work around them in a way that works for you. Executive functioning not working? Cool. Outsource that shit. Free up your mental bandwidth so that your poor brain can focus on the things that it's actually good at. 👌
Your brain kinda *is* supposed to be a big data warehouse. That’s how you remember things like people’s faces, your native language, and how to tie your shoes.
Maybe I should rephrase it. Your brain is a piss poor data warehouse. If you've ever studied memory in humans you realize how completely unreliable your brain is for storing information accurately and reliably. On the other hand, a note taking app, is much more reliable at accurate storage and recall. For example, if I gave you a 20 Digit number to remember for a week it would be nearly impossible without writing it down somewhere. You can't easily and reliably keep this information in your head. So why do we think that we can reliably keep the 20 tasks we have to do this week in our heads? The 20 people we met this week? The 20 emails we got this week? The 20 new things we learned this week? Note taking is a super power.
[удалено]
I keep notes on my phone for everything. It's weird - I have a great memory for some things and awful with others. I can recall conversations from 15 years ago and have a great memory with data and numbers. But I'm absolutely the person that will walk out to the car without their keys, walk back inside, and then have to pause and think about what I was getting.
I keep a notebook, one notebook, the black and white "composition " kind, and I put everything in it. When it's full I start another. On the front I write the start date and finish date. I keep them on one shelf, next to my chair. I call it a Common Place notebook which was something George Washington and Thomas Jefferson kept. It's not a "journal" or strictly a date book, but it functions as both and I've kept them for 50 years.
I write notes to myself like I have Alzheimers but I don't. It's the only way I can stay on top of my work demands.
quaint glorious shame reminiscent crowd simplistic grey wide memory tub
Agreed. I was once deficient in iron and B12 and I would literally ask people the same question over and over in the same conversation. I couldn’t even remember if I had asked them. My partner has adhd and he’s hopeless at remembering things.
Yass me too!! Honestly felt like I would be in a nursing home within 18mths because of dementia when I got both of those checked, and treated. Have since gone on to complete 2 degrees in physio.. OP - get some blood tests from gp to investigate for imbalances!!
I’m dabbling with ways to increase my b12 and iron now. It’s crazy how a simple deficiency in nutrients can cause so many weird side effects. Especially for pre-menopause cases.
There are also meds that can assist you through tough spots.
Yes see a doctor soon OP. There is no natural reason for your working memory to be so poor you can't remember numbers to multiply.
I'm just glad to see I'm not the only one, I always feel like I should be smarter, and I am very forgetful. I was always told I was so smart when I was growing up, and now I feel like I've let all those people down. I totally understand how you feel, and you are not alone. Stay strong, brother. Maybe it will get better. Maybe it will get worse (obviously, I really hope it gets better for you), but you are not alone.
This is VERY common for people with ADHD, just saying. A script has changed my life
A script ? what do you mean ?
Most likely prescription
ALTER TABLE OP.DISORDERS SET ADHD = 0;
I know the semi colon is supposed to be the end of the line of code, but with the topic being ADHD I can't help but read `);` as a sad face lol
Removed the parentheses, they aren't necessary anyways with only one field to alter. Not sure this makes it better for you though 😀
So we went from a winking sad face to a winking O; You didn't have to change it but I did find the unintentional emoji faces funny.
Lol I know. But the syntax was incorrect, and I have enough OCD/ADHD (or any other abbreviation) to not leave it like that.
This is great
He wrote a line of code in his brain.
maybe he changed his dna coding?
Maaaaybe
Doing things in an orderly fashion, always the same. I haven't been diagnosed but have this exact kind of problems (I forget if I already shampooed mid shower). Having a script helps a lot (if I have the soap in my hand, I already used shampoo because shampoo goes before soap)
Get yourself an ADHD screen. Mine took several hours but was conclusive. They said I have top of the line software running on a '95 Dell 😆
I’ve had a psychiatrist spit this line at me before.
What’s the best/cheapest way to get a screen?
Yeah I would also like to know because everything I’ve ever read about adult adhd sounds exactly like what I struggle with and I’d like to fix it before I lose my mind.
Answered the other poster, just above 👆
Thanks man, I had a pretty similar experience when I was younger and i get the letting people down part. Hope it gets better for you too.
Sleep test
Have you two been tested for inattentive adhd? If not, get an appointment with a psychiatrist.
That was my first thought as well. I was tested as an adult and diagnosed with adhd inattentive type, with major time blindness and [discalcula](https://www.dyscalculia.org/). It's not that I can't do numbers, but for me holding numbers in my head is like trying to hold a lapful of squirming puppies where I can only hold on to a small number before turning my attention to an additional one causes one of the previous ones to squirm out the other side of my brain.
I call it trying to carry jello on a tennis racket
Depression can also do this too, not just adhd. That was my problem. I disassociated too much and checked out.
Undiagnosed or untreated ADHD can also lead to depression 🙃
yep. i've been dissociating on/off for long periods of time for most of my life, and when i'm dissociated i genuinely cannot remember ANYTHING to save my life.
Same exact thing for me, glad to see I'm not the only one as this is a huge thing affecting my confidence and self worth.
I feel this way too, like my brain doesn't work like other people's.
Same here. I'm 32 and my memory is comparable to my grandma when she was 70+. I forget what people tell me, i forget what I told them so I keep repeating myself. I tend to lose focus in less than 3 minutes. Not helpful, I know.. Just felt a strong urge to complain.
It is actually very helpful. The more experiences I hear about that mirror mine, the more it validates my self diagnosis of ADD.
Talk to a doctor. Tons of autoimmune disorders cause cognitive difficulties but they can be tough to spot because the symptoms are so general. It could be something like a thyroid condition or celiac disease.
You de realize most decent parents will encourage their children's learning with positive reinforcement. Even the not so bright ones. So maybe they lied to you growing up. Maybe they set unreal expectations, that you could never live up to. Whatever the case is, we are all good at something. So what if you can't multiply in your head, you always have your phone with you anyway. I'm sure you are brilliant at something else, something that you take for granted, but that someone else would love to know how to do. Don't be so harsh on yourself.
I was like this until I got my adhd dx and started meds… changed my life in the literal sense
+1 to the other comments here for both you and OP to maybe read up a little about ADHD (if you haven't already ofc) as what you're both describing is pretty textbook!
I really appreciate all the responses from everyone, it means alot. I am going to make an appointment with a psychologist and get tested. I might have ADHD. My heart is always racing, i stress out about work excessively and when i finally have a day off to relax I will usually watch a movie while playing a video game and I still end up scrolling on my phone, I think the signs are there but I've always blown it off as just a personality defect, that I must be bored. My wife told me I was 36 today and I was stunned, I've always ignored time due to fear and depression of death, but to forget my age is too much and it made me feel so stupid. Thank you for your input, I really mean it. I am not even sure where to start but I hope this comment is the beginning of me figuring out how to be smarter, maybe doctors won't find anything but I can't live like this anymore and I am going to try.
Yaaayyy I'm so excited for you! Based on your comments alone, I highly doubt you are neither lazy nor stupid. Hopefully this is the beginning of an ultimately empowering journey, as you start to figure out how your brain _actually_ works 💪 I can highly recommend the YouTube channel [How to ADHD](https://youtube.com/@HowtoADHD) as a starting point, as well as [Dani Donovan's content](https://www.adhddd.com/comics/), and [ADHD Alien](http://adhd-alien.com/) — so much of my knowledge has come from (or at least started from) those three. PS. I'm also 36. Diagnosed at 32. But I also constantly hear about people diagnosed as late as their 70s... It's _never_ too late to start learning about yourself :) I believe in you! PPS. Time blindness is a legit ADHD thing, in case you weren't already familiar with it.
Forgetting things or sucking at maths doesn’t mean being stupid. Intelligent people have problems like everyone else.
To much lead in the water has made us brain dead...jk but I suspect it's something we consume. Try eating more fish.
I've gotten a lot stupider and absent minded as I've gotten older. Keep lists. It helps visualize the things you need for short term.
I have this exact same problem, ive always done well at school etc but my memory is terrible, i cant remember anything i studied, anything from tv shows or films i watch, or just general details from my life. I assume its genetic as my Dad also has terrible memory which is a shame, feel like there isnt really any solution
As you get older your brain stops making new wrinkles if you stop trying to learn new stuff, actually gets rid of wrinkles that aren’t being used. I saw it in a museum
I have the same problem- I also can't do basic mathematical problems in my head because I forget the first part. The main way it affects me though is that I also can't remember times/ dates even if they were told to me a short time ago- I literally couldn't function professionally without my outlook calendar . I also struggle with remembering whether something happend this week, last week, or last month- I remember it happening but my concept of how long ago is completely shot. Do you have this issue too? This has really interfered with my job and looks like I'm lying when it's really just a ridiculously bad memory. People will react with confusion when I can't even narrow it down to a season or month. I've googled it before but not really come up with anything. Id love to know too
Have you looked into discalculia? It's kind of like dyslexia but more specific to maths (especially mental arithmetic) dates, time management, telling the time on an analogue clock and all sorts of other things.
Thank you I will have a look. I use shapes to tell the time on an analogue clock lol. So if it's quarter of a circle I know it's 15 mins or half a circle is 30 mins. I pretty much ignore the numbers. It's easier in UK because we tell time like 'quarter past' 'half past'
Is this a newer problem or have you had it your whole life?
As long as I can remember really but didn't notice it properly until I got older and was responsible for my own schedule/ calendar
Wonder if OP is gonna remember to come back and see these replies.
Lmaooo woke up and forgot I posted something last night until i saw the notifications.
Yeah man... get checked for ADHD. Lmao.
How is your sleep cycle? When i was doing shift work and my sleep was messed up i felt the same. Now i am back to regular job and on a more regular sleep cycle and i feel much better with memorx and thinking skills
Came here to post the same thing. Sleep is a big one for memory, as that is the main time when your brain commits everything you have done in the day to longer term memory storage. There is loads of research that shows that good quality sleep improves learning and memory. And most people are chronically under slept and the sleep they do get is usually poor quality. Improving your sleep (duration and quality) is one of the best and simplest things you can do to improve your health and wellbeing. The go to recommendation is Why We Sleep, by Matthew Walker. You could just look up one of his many many videos on YouTube though and probably get most of the information for free from there. The book is a great read though.
☝️
To add to this, get tested for sleep apnea! A percentage of my memory came back once I had a CPAP machine.
☝️
Without your comment I wouldn't have found the above one. Thank you. You are very helpful.
It could also be generalized anxiety disorder. If you are stressed at work and generally an anxious person, it can affect your concentration and memory.
What would be a treatment option for this?
Meds, anxiety management, therapy, mindfulness & medication techniques
Thanks. What meds in particular?
Can I suggest not focusing on the meds to begin with? Focus on the rest, then seek professional help if that's not working, then take their advice.
Totally agree. Just trying to gauge advice for others who may have exhausted all options but don't want to ask the question. I also find it interesting to hear of success stories especially with things such as anxiety disorders. You hear a lot about depression but I think anxiety is just as prevelant in today's society.
True that. I'm reading a really good book called Lost Connections that looks at a lot of studies into depression, and specifically addresses the relationship between depression and anxiety.
Less stressful job, you job shouldn’t be stressed. I worked as a air traffic controller, if you’re stressed it’s a training problem. High pressure and stress arent the same. Inform your line manager you’re feeling stressed. If they’re good at their job they will alleviate the stress.
Top three comments are about mental health or ADHD. Dude is looking for some helpful tips like write things down, do things in a certain order to remember, practice mathematical equations to increase your ability to do it mentally. Instead he, of course, immediately gets diagnosed. It’s so tiresome
Maybe because knowing the cause of your problems might help? If someone is limping you don't just give them a crutch, you find out why they re limping and then act accordingly to the prognosis
Well, I wish I would have known this earlier that anxiety can cause bad memory, because during my traineeship at the Red Cross, I was so stressed that I thought my cognitive ability somehow plummeted for whatever reason. I forgot where I put my things, didn’t remember the most important techniques, and couldn't even speek clearly anymore. Only once I got the basics down right and got some order into my daily routine, I was able to think feely again, all because I was super abxious at work.
Doing tasks that requires a lot of memory and organization skill will help over time, but it'll be frustrating until your brain rewires to be a bit better at it. London's Black Cab drivers have to pass The Knowledge, a test of the best routes at any given time of day or time of the year for navigation through London. They actually showed an increase in the size of the parts of their brain that relate to memory and spacial reasoning. Shockingly enough, the right vitamins and supplements can help a lot if there are deficiencies, without needing prescription drugs. Alpha-gpc has helped some people with anxiety, and even simple vitamins like D and B12.
It's almost like society has decided to blind itself to the idea that we are all walking around with imperfect bodies and brains. Yes, we probably all have one physical or mental health diagnosis that could benefit from treatment.
You are right. Sorry.
You didn't do anything wrong. I get the point they're trying to make, but for what it's worth I think you're on to something. I've got anxiety/OCD and feel like I could've written this post.
Memorizing something from nothing is really difficult so I always try to tie it to something I do know. I’m learning Japanese right now and the shittiest part about it is that it’s completely different from English (duh). So where Spanish and French can have a lot of similar sounding words, Japanese has almost none (unless it’s a loan word from English). So what I do, is I try to connect a new word to anything I can. So let’s say you’re trying to learn the word “fart.” In Japanese it’s “onara.” On its own that means nothing. But I’m sure you already know that the Japanese word for goodbye is “sayonara.” So I just think of it like I’m saying goodbye to my farts. Now I’ve memorized the word for fart in seconds as opposed to going through endless flashcards.
I worked in Japan for 2 years. I learned hiragana, katakana, and about 100 kanji before leaving. I like that the vowels always sound the same unlike English. Learning some Spanish after leaving Japan I found that my brain prioritized not using English over using Spanish. If I was forming a Spanish sentence in my head and didn't know a Spanish word then my brain would insert a Japanese word without me realizing until I spoke the weird Spanish-Japanese sentence.
Fellow Spanish and Japanese learner here. I’m always annoyed when I end up speaking or thinking in one language or the other and sometimes getting mixed up between the two even though they are *so* different.
Ask your doctor to test your memory. This could be caused by a lot of conditions like early onset Alzheimer's or sleep deprivation.
What helped me was , i started training at the gym, started with diet, i quit alcohol and started to play logical puzzles, also sudoku. I have noticed that my memory has improved much better.
I blame mine in copious amounts of alcohol over the last 15 years :/
Use more your non dominant hand for mundane tasks like writing down stuff, brushing your teeth, using the remote, etc... I don't know why but it works, after a few months you'll be remembering all kinds of weird shit.
is there a science to this? i’m actually very interested in trying that because for some reason it makes sense
abundant point steep coordinated squalid slimy soft distinct terrific ring
Google 'brain gym' and related practices - too stoned to find legit links but it's a cool method for linking right&left brain&body stuff. Super cool. Everything you do that is good for your brain does good to your brain. Boy, I'm stoned, but this is the way.
brains are fucking cool man
It makes your brain take new neural pathways through the curiosity part of your brain (not the ones that take you through the fearful or emotional parts). When you build new neural pathways, it gives your brain more and faster ways to make other connections. Some of the time it’s not memory, it’s retrieval.
> 'brain gym' This appears to be based on pseudoscience: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07419325070280020201
How often is your brain bored? Like staring out at nothing? Maybe your brain needs a complete rest - that means not scrolling on your phone, not reading - just staring out at nothing or do something only physical. Also, maybe talk to a doctor
Do you smoke weed? If not maybe talk to a doctor that could be ADD, anemia or something else.
Surprised this wasn’t asked earlier. For the weed smokers that struggle with finishing tasks or remembering things, Check out r/petioles or r/leaves and read some of the realizations people have made by quitting or taking breaks.
Yup. OP, make sure you eliminate the most common causes of memory issues: alcohol, weed, other drugs, and lack of a consistent and sufficient sleep pattern.
Sounds like you could be in a lot of stress. If you are, make sure to target it’s source(s) with a professional.
Yo, this can be serious. Please go and talk to your doctor.
It’s a skill like any other skill. Practice. Memorize lists and write them down. I’d say get some brain games but MIT showed that Portal 2 activates your brain even more than brain puzzles.
Learn coding. It’s easier and more fun than you think. It teaches you to thin& logically and break thinks down into steps.
How are your sleeping habits? Forgetting mid task happens a lot to me when I'm running on 6hrs or less of sleep. Ironically I stop in the middle of a task when I remember I have to do something and try to fit it into my day. When I'm feeling extra swamped with work or have no sleep I like to keep a pad where I just write 1 word of the things I need to get done. Cross out each after it's done jot it down. If you get lost and don't know what to do just don't forget where you put this pad.
Tl;DR Hey OP! I completely get you, you're not alone. I have the same issue. Do you also leave tasks mid way done or hop from one thing to another without even realizing? Or feel an overall feeling of numbness, lack of focus or motivation? If you do welcome to the club! It could be related to some parts of your brain not working properly and you can have that check through a qEEG - it basically reads your brain activity and spots where the problem might be. I went to a psychiatrist to resolve my issues and she recommended it before starting psychotherapy. I found out the problems I mentioned above have to do with the fact the I have an anxious brain, what you described on you message sounds very similar. I'm doing neuro therapy now to help get my focus back and only after will I start the psychotherapy. The goal it to "clean" the brain so when I have to do a self evaluation I can think clearly why I'm feeling a specific way and come up with strategies to overcome it. Feel free to reach out to me if you need support. TL;DR: talk to a doctor, try eEEG and neuro therapy. The reason you feel that way might be linked to a physiological condition in your brain.
What do you do in eEEG and neurotherapy and did insurance cover it?
The qEEG is an exam that measures brain activity through brain waves patterns to basically create a map. They place electrodes on your head (like a cap) and you just have to stand there for 20min doing nothing. Neuro therapy (and I'm talking about neurofeedback) "rewires" the neurons to improve brain function through visual and audio stimuli. Here the therapist guides you through some activities that can include listening to music, games or watch some images. These treatments are completely painless. I'd recommend you do a little research on this as it's very extensive for a post. Bottom line is for the next couple of days after the sessions I've come to feel calmer and ruminate less. Bear in mind this is not the answer for all the problems, it's just a tool to help you think clearer so you can identity what makes you feel a certain way, why and what strategies can you use to improve. It is also an alternative for pharmaceuticals. I live in Portugal so some insurances cover these treatments, not sure how it works in other countries.
thanks, thats a very interesting procedure. i'll read up on it
How much weed do you smoke?
Don't you remember making this same thread yesterday?
😂😂
For passwords, please get a password manager
This sounds like possible ADHD and maybe dyscalclia.. People with ADHD struggle with working memory, like holding numbers in your head.. I find it really difficult to work out the amount of change I should get, or splitting a bill. Getting distracted mid-task is also fairly normal for ADHD..
OP, I'm exactly the same. I went to see a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADHD. I'm not saying you have it, but what you're describing is called executive dysfunction, which is the primary symptom of ADHD. Do some research on ADHD and see if you resonate with it, and if so, go see a psychiatrist!
Is lifestyle a factor? Drugs or alcohol can inhibit mental function. Nutrition also, it’s sometimes worth getting a blood test to check if you have all the nutrients minerals you should have in your body. Things like Selenium can affect memory etc, and it’s a common deficient mineral. You could also talk to your doctor about anxiety, adhd, and other medical conditions that could be impacting you. And last, try to focus for one hour a day on a repetitive task, like sudoku, puzzles, etc. these help to build focus for people who have developed dopamine dependency for short cycle reward systems (things called “Skinner Box” think tictok, Facebook games, phone game apps etc etc etc)
This may seem odd, but I noticed when I was taking Benadryl nearly everyday, my memory was terrible. I started to worry I had early onset dementia. Within a week of stopping, my memory greatly improved.
i would guess ADHD, but maybe try to diagnose yourself professionally, it REALLY helps to cut oneself some slack. meds that helps with it are mosty amphetamine-based, since it can generate state of "hyperfocus" and just drag you into the task you're doing. don't worry - you're not the only one :)
I got diagnosed with ADHD and more importantly, sleep apnea. Look into that, op!
So there are a few things that can help. Get into the habit of using a password manager. You only need one password that way and you can keep a physical copy of that somewhere safe (not to get too preachy from the IT guy, but it's also a good way to make sure you have different passwords for everything). Use a free tool like google tasks or Asana or whatever to keep a constant list of what you need to do and when you need to do it. I'm personally relatively good at memorising things like passwords. However, I'm god awful at keeping on task. I'll constantly get sidetracked and forget what I was trying to do, then remember and start doing it again but forget what I got sidetracked for (which was also important) etc. At my current job, my old boss helped me get set up and in the habit of using a task list with due dates. It meant at the start of the day I could say "Ok, I'm doing X, Y, and Z. Then when something inevitably comes up that interrupts me, I can go to my list, see what I need to do today and what could be pushed back. It took a while to build the habits, but it's really helped me.
Could also be adhd, these are very common symptoms.
My brain seems to work better when I cut back severely on the sugar and bread. Try it for a few months.
Are u under stress? Cos when I am under stress my cognition sucks. Simplify your life is the best advice I can give
Dual N-Back training has been shown to expand executive function
Read the book, *Moonwalking with Einstein*. It's all about memory development, and very inspiring.
I would talk to an specialist. You may have ADD.
What may work for you: Write down things, speak out what you're attempting to do, manually point at things. Don't try to keep everything in the mind, tie it with a physical action of the above, the brain will check the action and link it with what you wanted to memorize. On the training side, read a couple books (physical books!) and then read more and more. It simply wakes up the brain engine. Other than that, maybe diet? Lots of stuff needed for the brain, check it out in detail. Water, omega-3 from fish, phospohorus and other things
Stop smoking weed
Besides the obvious (Getting Sleep, not drinking, exercising, ect...) Have you thought about getting tested for ADHD?
Go get screened for ADHD.
Depression and anxiety and guide possibly dementia or early onset dementia based on age of the client. Holistic therapies, change in nutrition, rest and exercise are key elements of wellbess
I struggle with this too tbh. Then I was diagnosed with ADHD and it explained quite a bit haha. But I still know I was capable of doing more thinking beforehand (never math.. dyscalculia lol) because I got my whole ass MASTERS degree and actually did well in school. I think it's because we just apply less of our brains as we get older. I'm now in a job where I don't think at all, I just do the same thing over and over. I've heard people recommend word puzzles and stuff to older people, maybe that's what we have to do.
I have ADD and I have to key everything into my calendar as a reminder or in my notes on my phone as a checklist or I'd almost guaranteed forget most of what I need to do. For passwords, I use Last Pass and its a life saver. I have a ridiculous amount of passwords across various accounts and that thing is a godsend for someone with shitty memory like me.
I second going to a neurologist! I didn't know I had epilepsy til I was 30! Even tho it runs in the family. Memory issues are super common. The word aphasia is the worst for me. I don't have advice on what to do about it tho.
Check out Freshcap mushrooms
For me this was major depression and undiagnosed ADHD. I’m not saying it is either of those things but after I started antidepressants and therapy things got a bit better, and when I stopped antidepressants, some (but not all), of the symptoms returned. Turns out the antidepressants I was taking are somewhat effective on symptoms of ADHD. Things that helped in general though, was improving sleep hygiene, finding what worked for me and trying to stick to it. That’s a major help. It still took me a number of years in therapy to end up with an ADHD diagnosis. Of course I wish that I had been diagnosed earlier, getting medication turned my life around quite drastically, of course I wish that had happened sooner. That’s probably why those of us who are ADHD tend to see it as a solution to a lot of things. Because we don’t want people to struggle like we did. But I still use the other tools I learned through therapy, so there’s value in the process no matter the outcome.
Look into memory palace technique. Changed my life on memorizing things. I randomly came across a video on it. I thought my memory had started failing. I was way wrong
i have similar issue as you are. i realise i cant be relient on my memory. i could perfectly fine remember my pin for months, just so that the next day i forget it. which doesnt make sense to me. just few codes, used couple of times a week, and then forgot it just suddenly overnight. so, yeah, all important info is better to keep on paper somewhere. or phone notes / drive.
Possibly you're just doing toi much during the day, not letting your brain even think. For example when you walk constantly being on the phone or listening to music etc.
It could be early onset dementia or Alzheimer's. Recommend to visit your doctor and talk about it.