Memory and Focus Issues.

LegacyUser

Boards is not a place to go if you're looking to be agreed with, or if you're afraid of some tough love, so it took me a while to write this. I am not looking for medical advice, I think it's just the rant I need. If I'm breaking any forum rules, I do apologise.

I have an incredibly bad memory. I can't remember things that are said to me last week, I can't remember agreeing to do things, I can't remember to turn things off. I have forgotten to turn off irons, hair straighteners and lock doors. I wake up in the middle of the night trying, reaching out to try and remember something important I had to do. I've had to start writing absolutely everything down on my phone or notebook. Not just important errands to run, or bills to pay but articles I want to look up, music I want to download, things that I need to check on or little jobs to do for people. I've trained myself to write absolutely everything down, but even then things slip through the cracks. My boyfriend (who I live with) is quite organised, and my memory and letting things slip used to cause some really serious rows until last week when I broke down and got very upset and frustrated. I used to smoke cannabis daily when I was in my early twenties, but haven't touched it in over 4 years, because I started getting worried about its effect on my memory.

It's getting to a point where I'm feeling friends and projects slip away because I would forget to email/text/call them back. I would start an account on tumbler, on formspring, a blog and work very hard at it, then forget about it and struggle to remember what I was doing. I have lost faith in any dreams I had of going back to college next year because I know it would be money wasted as I would fall behind and just give up.

I used to just consider myself scatty or a flake, and God love my friends, they are stuck to me like glue since I started getting so upset, but I'm beginning to just lose hope that I'll be able to fix myself. I don't know whether the cannabis has messed me up, whether I was always meant to be this f*cking stupid or if there's something wrong in my head but I want to fix it. I need to fix this or I'll just keep going through my life wrecking sh*t because I'm off in LaLaLand and can't focus on anything.

dudara

Have you spoken to a medical professional about any of this? This problem of yours sounds quite serious to me, and my "tough love" piece of advice would be to seek some help with this.

LegacyUser

Have you ever thought of brain training on nintendo DS? helps you with your memory.

Sardonicat

Hi OP

All of this must be very frustrating and frightening for you. The only way you can get to the bottom of this and fixing it is to go to your GP and be open and honest about everything.

Maybe you are right about the cannabis, I wouldn't know, but your GP would and would be able to advise you on how much longer this is likely to last and what you can do to improve things in the meantime. Don't feel embarrassed, they're there to help.

Please go to see your gp asap and leave it with him/her about what kind of assessment and tests you need to get to the bottom of this. It may not be caused by the cannibis at all. Don't put off getting the professional help you need because you used to do something that you think the gp would judge you on. S/he won't.

mikemac

melted_head wrote: »

if there's something wrong in my head but I want to fix it. I need to fix this or I'll just keep going through my life wrecking sh*t because I'm off in LaLaLand and can't focus on anything.

Probably a bit of a self fulfilling prophesy in that too though.
Like if you are in work and feeling unconfident and worried then it's likely you'll forget the instructions your manager gives you.
If you tell yourself you cannot do something then you probably can't, if you are sure you can do it, you probably will

But go see a GP anyway

And stimulate yourself too. Crossword puzzles can be good fun, do one in a daily paper
And check out Tony Buzan mind maps, there are videos on youtube and books available.

Zen65

melted_head wrote: »

I need to fix this or I'll just keep going through my life wrecking sh*t because I'm off in LaLaLand and can't focus on anything.

Hi Op,

There are training courses which claim to improve your memory. Look them up and give them a go.

Before you do that, however, some simple things to prepare yourself.

Firstly, stop smoking. Whether it's weed or tobacco, the excess of CO in your bloodstream reduces your ability to transport oxygen to your brain cells and damages your memory.

Secondly, get exercise regularly. A healthy body helps feed a healthy brain.

Thirdly, try simple brain exercises such as sudoku which can help to improve your brain's performance, though I don't know if that has been shown to directly improve memory.

Every time you tell yourself you have a poor memory, you make it more true. Learn to accept that your memory does not define you, and you can change your memory skills exactly the same way you can change your skills at driving, cooking, maths, playing music, and so on.

Speaking of music, do you know the lyrics to any songs? You probably do, even without realising it. If your brain can remember that sort of information, you can train it to remember other things too.

Be at peace,

Z

Joey the lips

I am like this. i always have been. Even on boards i have to look back on past replies to see what i agreed. I reply on the remonders to my mail to help me.

I forget everything. I can remember the equation for Photosysthesis(Can spell it) but cannot remember what i did last week.

I forget appointments and i cannot rember where i put things safe. My wallet is missing at the moment and my mortage is in it :eek:


Any.... My point is dont take it to hard.

I read up on this. Its quite common in women. Especially around times of there period( Dont answer that one)

My soluton..

Write everyting down... which you do.

Use your reminder on the phone to remind you off appointments... However make sure it reminds you the day before.

New people. Write there name down.

Anything you think you will need to recall.

Over time you will find you will not need to consult your diary as much. Especially if you stare at the words as you write them..

On the sockets. This is OCHD. i have it. What i do is count the sockets... So they i count them all off....

I know that because my count was correct it got everything.

Do a list before you go away... A list of what you need to check... Like sockets...plugs.... list them

Try not to let it bother you... It gets worse as you get distressed...

donkey oatey

Diet can be very important. Do you eat enough fruit, veg and eggs? There are supplements that are very effective for helping your bran - b supplements and ginkgo biloba (prescription only).

Meditation could be something to try as it affects the brainwaves.

I do think speaking to someone is a good idea but maybe an addiction specialist as well as a gp because they'd have more experience with the after effects of substance abuse (not because I think you ave/had a drug problem].

Good luck!

Yoga and meditation really do help, as does keeping a diary of some sort. I use my iPod Touch to keep track of anything of importance. Do you drink much tea? I would regularly drink about 5-6 cups a day and found my energy levels dropping and my focus levels going with it, so I cut down on the amount I drink to one cup a day and maybe 1 or 2 herbal teas.

LegacyUser

Thank you very much for all of your kind words and advice - I think I knew I had to go see a doctor if it was starting to wind me up like it is, I just thought I'd get laughed out of the surgery for being a hypochondriac or something.
I rely on my notebooks, gmail task lists and phone reminders a lot, but I think I need to stick with one because it was starting to get a bit confusing.
I will take all of the diet, exercise, mind training and relaxing advice on, and will give a good go at getting this sorted as my new years resolution.

The worst part was telling my boyfriend and my closest friends about what was happening to me, I thought I was going mad, but they've noticed that I'm getting a little strung out and panicky over little things lately as well, just didn't want to say it in case it wound me up even further.

Thank you all again, I really appreciate it.

Jenneke87

Do you sleep well? If your mind doesn't get enough rest your memory is usually the first to go. If that's not the case, a GP is your best bet, as everyone else has said.