brain like a seive

stagolee

sorry if this isnt the right forum for this but i was wondering if anyone else here has a ridiculously bad memory for things , names , people , events.... well everything really. i often find that if someone asks me what i did a couple of days ago i draw a blank (perhaps i just dont lead a very interesting life) and peoples names are bloody impossible to remember, ill ask someone their name, ill repeat it to myself in my head so i dont forget and 5 mins later "sorry what was your name again?"

also i often meet pepole on the street and they seem to know me but i havent a bog who they are, ive become so good at this one that i dont even realize myself that i dont know their name unless someone else asks me what it is.

i drink a bit but not any more than most young blokes although in the last while ive tried to stop myself from having anymore than 3 cos if i do the rest of the night is often hazy at best.

i got a fairly bad knock on the head when i was about 19 or so and i reckon the poor memory might be down to this (not that i was ever rainman to start with ) i dont reckon the booze is helping either cos i can rarely remember anything at all after ive had more than 5

anyhow i realize this is the wrong forum for this as the people on here generally have more serious problems and my poor memory dosent really bother me much but i couldnt find a health forum. what i want to know is are there many people with really bad memory out there or am i the most forgetfull boards poster of all ?

445279.ie

You're probably just getting old like the rest of us!!!

If someone rings me from a company and say their name, 10 seconds later, I have to ask them it again.

I was going to write something else, but I can't remember what it was!!!

Its not my memory, but my em.. whats the word.. attention span. Serious. I never even read the starter thread all the way through.. just phased out...

tinkerbell

I think I heard before of memory exercises that can improve your memory, maybe you should look into that?

Victor_Meldrew

I was going to post a lengthy reply, but can't remember what I was going to say...

Seriously though, it might not be anything to worry about. If you worry too much about it, your mind will be preoccupied with thoughts of your bad memory, hence making you even more forgetful maybe. Some people just have really bad memories, just as some people have ridiculously good memories and some people have really bad eyesight. Sometimes, it's just one of those things. Personally, I have an awful memory, despite being virtually teetotal and never having been whacked on the head (maybe I was though, and just can't remember ).

tuco

I'm the very same, have been for years, worries me too from time to time. I often forget the names of people I've known for years if it comes to introducing them to someone else or if i need their name - I'll get it eventually, I know I know the name, I just draw a blank. Similar on the alcohol front too. Occasionally go through periods where I get a couple of blackouts for no particular reason - ie, eat fine, feel fine, drink three pints and go home fine. Next day nada. This is very rare thank christ 'cause it scares the hell out of me frankly, but not rare enough. That said, it hasn't happened in a year or so now. Any night I go out and have a fair bit to drink, the end of the night blurs into oblivion, but that doesn't bother me particularly. I'd also be interested in finding out if there's a lot of people like this, or if anyone has any reasonably considered opinions...

Oryx

Do you constantly have a lot to do, so that you are trying to think of other things when being told something? Ive also heard that depression and stress can affect your memory, but only you know if these are factors. You are not alone anyway, Im guilty of the no name thing too, its a bugger when you have to introduce someone

skywalker

yep ive a terrible short term memory, like for stuff in the last couple of days/hours, long term stuff is fine. also my really short term memory (sensory memory) is fine also. i work with educational stuff and was recently doing stuff on memory. very interesting stuff, once enough time passes and i remember the explanations for it ill post em up.

stagolee

tinkerbell wrote:

I think I heard before of memory exercises that can improve your memory, maybe you should look into that?

cool ill have to look those up

and thanks all the other forgetfull folks its nice to know im not the only one , i will remember your kind words always.... hmm, sorry what? drifted off there, hey who are you guys? where am i? (only kidding )

Mutant_Fruit

Memory, whats a memory... I can't remember what it is.

Thats how bad i am. I started college this year, and theres people i STILL cannot remember the names of that i have seen, and hang out with EVERY DAY! I look at them and go "****! whats they're name", and its really embarressing, especially when i'm calling out who i'm with to someone on the phone, or introducing them to a friend they havn't met before.

And to think I thought i was special

stagolee

KatieK wrote:

Do you constantly have a lot to do, so that you are trying to think of other things when being told something? Ive also heard that depression and stress can affect your memory, but only you know if these are factors. You are not alone anyway, Im guilty of the no name thing too, its a bugger when you have to introduce someone

nah if ive lots to do but i never remember to do any of it so i try and stick to one or two things and put reminders in my phone (tis ridiculous really, my crappy little nokia 3310 has a better memory than i do) no stress at all , ive never been able to get stressed about things. and i only get depression with hangovers which was happening for the last year or so which is another reason ive cut down on the booze.

i sometimes get my age wrong when people ask me too "25 no wait emmm 26... i think, yeah 26 definatley" people look at me like im taking the piss. although that hasnt happened many times and its normally just for a while after my birthday till i get used tothe new age and all

he heh i know that feelin mutant fruit after its been that long and youve hung out with them long enough that youd feel like a right plonker asking someone what their name is ive tried the old "so how do you spell your name" while writing peoples name into my phone book only to be told " dave d.. a.. v.. e.." DOH!!! :rolleyes:

Skellington

my memory has been f*ked for years and i'm only 20... to much bulmers and tequila and some other stuff... or could be result of a fair few severe blows to the head from walls, lampposts, kerbs and i've just been told bout a nail through a plank of wood was takin out of my head when i was a kid... that one kinda of worries me actually . anyway, em.............

Zulu

Pass the hymn sheet brother. I've a terriable memory for names etc.. It's very embarrasing, but as a friend pointed out - I don't forget the names of girls I really fancy (that being said - it takes a while, and if I'm under pressure, forget it).

What can you do? I just tell everyone not to be offended, not that it helps.

skywalker

im the same, always forget names. never faces,

stagolee

Zulu wrote:

I don't forget the names of girls I really fancy

even those are not safe from the negligence and ineptitude of my piss poor hippocampus, i have the feeling it has cost me dearly on occasion too , there is phone numbers of girls in my phone and i have absolutley no idea who they are. did i meet them on a drunken night, get on really well with them and say id phone them to meet up sometime? buggered if im calling them now to find out , i have no idea how id start that conversation :eek: .

although this is probably wishfull thinking on my part :rolleyes:

the_syco

Call everyone "dude". They don't get offended then. In secondry school, it took me about 4 months before I knew everyone's name, in a class of 20. I find that if I learn one name each day, I have a higher chance of remebering their name for a while.

As for the bump on the head thing; when I was about 10, I went through a car windscreen. Was wearing a helmet, but the bang still sent me into a coma for 3 days

As for college, there's a few different ways of remembering. Goto the student service's place, and ask them for a booklet on memory techniques. Some college's also do a short memory course, going thru the different memory techniques.

Finally, I don't seem the "learn", as such, I usually absorb the intresting stuff, and forget the rest of the stuff.

As someone once said; a bad memory is not a fault; if you remember it correctly, you won't forget it, but if you don't remember it correctly, your brain will discard the infomation.

Skellington

the_syco wrote:

As for the bump on the head thing; when I was about 10, I went through a car windscreen. Was wearing a helmet, but the bang still sent me into a coma for 3 days .

got a feelin that i'm not understanding this properly but why where ya wearin a helmet in a car? i'm all for being saftey conscience with kids but thats a bit excessive

tinkerbell

My memory is usually pretty good, but I remember one incident, I was introducing two of my friends to each other - I was like "and this is .... " and I just totally blanked. I could not remember one of their names at all! And to say twas somebody I'd been friends with for about 2.5 years is not a good thing! It was so odd, I just got a total memory blank :eek: We all laughed it off afterwards but I was pretty mortified

tinkerbell

PunK04 wrote:

got a feelin that i'm not understanding this properly but why where ya wearin a helmet in a car? i'm all for being saftey conscience with kids but thats a bit excessive

I assume the guy was on a bicycle and was wearing a helmet when he went through the car windscreen? Not going through the windscreen from inside the car

Sarky

Darn kids, can't keep their.... Whaddyacallits.... On any.... Uh... [/Sleepy's Law]

I'm useless for remembering faces and events. I only made it to two friends' birthdays this month because I was reminded right beforehand, and one of them had to wait till the day after for me to get a present. It's very embarrassing sometimes. I find the best way to deal with it is laugh it off and pretend you meant to do it all along. But, given the nature of my friends, I wouldn't recommend it to most other people...

Miss Polaris

Hi stagolee

You can try some mind exercises as suggested, also in Ginko Bilobais a herbal supplement that may help. http://www.kcweb.com/herb/Ginko.htm

Are you on any meds that may have this as a side effect, some medications do have amnesia as a listed side effect.

koconnor

Hi lads,
I couldnt believe I stumbled across this post!
I too had the whole memory problems. Really bugged the hell out of me too. Main thing was leaving keys down and couldnt find them again!
Well I thought I would let you know what I have done about it.
I created
It is a site for students from all countries (but aimed for Ireland) where they can learn memory improvement techniques. Once they have got a grasp of the techniques, they can go to the forum, look for their exam (eg leaving, junior cert, GCSE etc) and then find their subject, eg Physic. In the subject area they can ask a question about how they would memorise a particular section, eg oh I dunno, definition for Avogadro's Law.
Then myself and other students/guests can give them advice on how we would memorise the definition.
It works to for formulas. I have put together a few pages in the tutorials to give you the general idea of how to memorise materials. The forum is where I want most of the memorising to happen. From the forums I can then make the tutorials bigger!!
Would be greatful if you would take a look and tell me what you think. I hope you will find it useful too. it is only up 3 days so there is only 3 people registered to the forum. If you like the site and think others may benefit, send on the link!
I have also added a section that teaches fast maths shortcuts, I was reading this book on it and I think they could be really useful!
Thanks folks, and happy memorising!!
kevin

you cannot advertise your product on this board for free - discuss it with one of the admins if you wish to do so
Beruthiel

stagolee

Miss Polaris wrote:

Hi stagolee

You can try some mind exercises as suggested, also in Ginko Bilobais a herbal supplement that may help. http://www.kcweb.com/herb/Ginko.htm

Are you on any meds that may have this as a side effect, some medications do have amnesia as a listed side effect.

nice one! im going to go buy some of that stuff tommorow morning

not on any meds at the mo, always had a distrust of pharmacuticals, i never even take painkillers

koconnor wrote:

Hi lads,
I couldnt believe I stumbled across this post!
I too had the whole memory problems. Really bugged the hell out of me too. Main thing was leaving keys down and couldnt find them again!
Well I thought I would let you know what I have done about it.
I created
It is a site for students from all countries (but aimed for Ireland) where they can learn memory improvement techniques. Once they have got a grasp of the techniques, they can go to the forum, look for their exam (eg leaving, junior cert, GCSE etc) and then find their subject, eg Physic. In the subject area they can ask a question about how they would memorise a particular section, eg oh I dunno, definition for Avogadro's Law.
Then myself and other students/guests can give them advice on how we would memorise the definition.
It works to for formulas. I have put together a few pages in the tutorials to give you the general idea of how to memorise materials. The forum is where I want most of the memorising to happen. From the forums I can then make the tutorials bigger!!
Would be greatful if you would take a look and tell me what you think. I hope you will find it useful too. it is only up 3 days so there is only 3 people registered to the forum. If you like the site and think others may benefit, send on the link!
I have also added a section that teaches fast maths shortcuts, I was reading this book on it and I think they could be really useful!
Thanks folks, and happy memorising!!
kevin

cheers mate ive stuck that page in my favourites list and im going to read through it in more detail once i get some coffe into me , looks exelent so far , ill be back here and ill write something about it for all the other forgetfull folks
(my memory must be getting better ,found my way back to this post again today )

koconnor

Hey that's great. I have a lot of work put into it, but of course I need to add more to the tutorial sections and will get round to doing it hopefully this week. It is aimed for exactly the reasons you gave! To improve your memory.
I hope you like it, and good luck with the memory!
Kevin

seamus

I'm the same. The gf is constantly meeting new people, and when she calls back names to me "so-and-so did this..", I won't have a clue who they are, even if she says it an hour or two later. I've gotten much better in the time I've known her, but I still forget stuff like that, or events that she has coming up (not the birthday of course ).

TBH, I've always been like this. When I was younger and my parents would ask me to do something that didn't get done, it wasn't because I didn't care or was too lazy, I just plain forgot. I've a great memory for knowledge though - facts and figures, technical knowledge, which is why it has never worried me. It's just the manner in which my brain prioritises information. Trivial things like other people's lives take second place to pure knowledge. I've also always been very observant, so the things I see always get a higher preference for recall than things I've heard. I've a great memory for faces, but I can just never remember their names.

stagolee

great site koconnor , i praticularly liked the bit for learning languages as im going to be trying to learn a couple of them myself soon

ven0m

A friend of mine is constantly going out on dates with women & I means loads of women & loads of dates & the other week he totally forgot the name of a woman he was out with, called her by a different name & she flipped!!! She went out with him again two days later - what kind of a woman is she???? All I could do was shake his damn hand!!! LEGENDARY!!!!

My problem is remembering their names full stop - lucky that didn't happen when I met my current g/f. First time for everything I suppose.... going out with her has the advantage I only have to remember HER name, cos she's the only one I'm seeing - hehehehehehe - see kids, when you simplify everything is better & easier hehehehehehe


::: ven0mous :::

joejoem

koconnor wrote:

Hi lads,
I couldnt believe I stumbled across this post!
I too had the whole memory problems. Really bugged the hell out of me too. Main thing was leaving keys down and couldnt find them again!
Well I thought I would let you know what I have done about it.
I created
It is a site for students from all countries (but aimed for Ireland) where they can learn memory improvement techniques. Once they have got a grasp of the techniques, they can go to the forum, look for their exam (eg leaving, junior cert, GCSE etc) and then find their subject, eg Physic. In the subject area they can ask a question about how they would memorise a particular section, eg oh I dunno, definition for Avogadro's Law.
Then myself and other students/guests can give them advice on how we would memorise the definition.
It works to for formulas. I have put together a few pages in the tutorials to give you the general idea of how to memorise materials. The forum is where I want most of the memorising to happen. From the forums I can then make the tutorials bigger!!
Would be greatful if you would take a look and tell me what you think. I hope you will find it useful too. it is only up 3 days so there is only 3 people registered to the forum. If you like the site and think others may benefit, send on the link!
I have also added a section that teaches fast maths shortcuts, I was reading this book on it and I think they could be really useful!
Thanks folks, and happy memorising!!
kevin

you cannot advertise your product on this board for free - discuss it with one of the admins if you wish to do so
Beruthiel

Aww come on thats OTT, its not like he is pimping a product, he replied to a guys call for help. Thats boolsheet

seamus

joejoem wrote:

Aww come on thats OTT, its not like he is pimping a product, he replied to a guys call for help. Thats boolsheet

Sometimes the most malicious scams begin with an offer of assistance. I'm not saying that's the case here.

stagolee

i dunno if its advertising really as he hasent asked me or anyone to pay for anything, he has just provided a link to a site which has free information on the topic, id understand if he was trying to sell something but hey its your board/forum thingy to moderate so its up to you :rolleyes:

the_syco

PunK04 wrote:

got a feelin that i'm not understanding this properly but why where ya wearin a helmet in a car? i'm all for being saftey conscience with kids but thats a bit excessive

I was cycling along, and *WHACK* got hit from the side, when crossing the road. You could see the mark the windscreenwiper left on the helmet, afterwards.
Also, for the first 2 or 3 weeks, I had constant amesia attacks. As in; when I woke up, it was if it was the first day after waking up, or I didn't know where I was, etc.

stagolee

the_syco wrote:

Also, for the first 2 or 3 weeks, I had constant amesia attacks. As in; when I woke up, it was if it was the first day after waking up, or I didn't know where I was, etc.

:eek: thats freaky, ive had that happen a couple of times when i was younger when id just started drinking, id completley forgotten about it till you mentioned it though

also a couple of years ago i stayed over in a mates flat after a big boozin session, the next morning i went to the spar which was just accross the road , only when i walked back out of the spar did i realize i had no idea which of the 20 or so georgian buildings id just left even though id had a look at it as id left to make sure i had the right one , id left my phone in the flat too.after a half hour or so of wracking my brain oddly enough i remembered being able to see a yellowbrick building through the back window , so i had to work out which house was at the right angle for that view

davie_b

i find that happens 2 me all the time i was looking at boards for the past hour and forgot the fact i had a java lecture then the lecturer just found me
and gave me dawgs abuse


all hail boards!!!

Capt'n Midnight

Are you getting enough sleep. It has something to do with short term memory to long term memory transfer. Like when you are introduced to someone and you think "yeah of course I'll remember thier name" and 20 seconds later you do. And 20 seconds after that you are saying "D'oh"

Or learn the Basil Faulty mumble when you forget names.

koconnor

Hi Folks,
bit taken back there about me advertising. Well sorry if it came across that way. I wasn't advertising.
I have spent many hours doing this site to help others. I am not charging anyone for anything nor am I looking for money. I am simply helping people to memorise stuff. Heck if it was a friend's link would I still be blamed? Not pointing fingers, but is it not possible that Miss Polaris owns that herb shop?

Miss Polaris wrote:

Hi stagolee

You can try some mind exercises as suggested, also in Ginko Bilobais a herbal supplement that may help. http://www.kcweb.com/herb/Ginko.htm

Are you on any meds that may have this as a side effect, some medications do have amnesia as a listed side effect.

I did post a new topic about my site saying it would help people with their bad memories. It was quickly deleted. I AM NOT SELLING ANYTHING. I am simply helping people, just like you.

Anyway thanks for the support those of you that actually took the time to check out the site and seeing what it is about and know I was only trying to help.
Kevin.

Beruthiel

joejoem wrote:

Aww come on thats OTT, its not like he is pimping a product, he replied to a guys call for help. Thats boolsheet

if you have a problem with the way things are run in this forum, take it up with a Admin, not in here
B

Miner

Back to the issue at hand... You could try Eye Q capsules. They're available at chemists over the counter. They contain fish oils which increase our concentration levels which in turn helps with memory.

The_Conductor

I'm in a similar camp- my memory is dire.
Its worse for short-term things than longer term memories- but people's names are a big black spot for me- including friends since childhood.

I've been advised that a lot of it may be stress related- and the manner in which I deal with stress- possibly something that you could have a think about yourself?

Was also advised to try zinc and magnesium supplements (they are supposed to help your memory)- Sona do a range for about 4-5 Euro in most chemists. Only been on them a week so far- so not sure (yet).

An added bonus to taking the zinc and magnesium supplements is they are also supposed to help in other departments too

Vis-a-vis taking supplements and vitamins- overdosing on vitamins/minerals can be every bit as bad as having a deficit. Be careful- and heed the recommended daily allowances (RDAs). That said, unfortunately the average person on the street has an appalling diet these days- and is liable to be missing vital nutrients. If you really wanted to look into this- go to your GP and have a professional evaluation.......

If in doubt, check it out!

S.