Memory problems

Besides memory holes from repressing memories (If I wake up nauseous after a nightmare and I skip breakfast because of that, I'll surpress that (because doing otherwise would mean acknowledging the nightmare) and am not able to remember whether or not I had breakfast) I also have a real problem remembering stuff I do, say, see, think, hear or plan.. I had a second opinion last week and I spent half the session asking "Sorry, what did you ask?" or "What was I talking about again?" because I forgot - usually while I was talking, even.
I figure it's because my memory is depressed/depression causes lack of focus and thus lack of remembrance/something like that.

Does anyone recognize this? How do you cope? Writing everything down isn't practical.

I find concentration really difficult and that affects my ability to remember what I'm supposed to be doing. I try to stick to doing one thing at a time, break stuff down into manageable chunks and if possible tell someone what I'm going to be doing. Mind you it took me 20 minutes this morning to figure out that to put my tights on properly, I needed a put my other foot in the empty leg I was just sitting there thinking "what next?".

My mind wanders and I experience vacant periods, but what you describe seems more severe.

My ability to control focus is minimal, therefore I try to exploit times of greater focus when they present themselves. That messes with scheduling, though.

Breadfish, how is your long-term memory?

I do find that I have difficulties with memory aswell. Sometimes I forget things short term, like what I came into a room to do, but alot of it is long term. I have few childhood memories, more than likely because I repressed so many of them. I believe memory loss falls on the dissociative scale, which I have experienced derealization before, but I'm not a psychiatrist so who knows. Wishing you the best.

I can't remember any long term memories. I do have hard time remembering short term memory also. If somebody asked what I did a week ago, my reply will be "I don't remember".

Yeah, writing everything down doesn't work with me. I tried and failed. I do not cope with remembering memories at all. I just let it happen. Because for me, past memory doesn't really matter to me. Sometimes, I will have flashbacks and be like "Oh, I remembered". But the bad thing is that I will have a flashbacks and be like "When was this? When did this happen?" and then, I will be trapped to that flashbacks, trying to figure out when/how/where/why/what happen.

I have swizz cheese memory. There are times I can't remember how to spell the simplest words, or--becomes a tangled knot, ore, Orr, oar, or? I will sit there for minuets trying to come up with a simple two letter word.

Dates, appointments? Forget it. There have been times I couldn't remember how to operate the computer, passwords, user names....ha! I have index cards that I use for that. My mind just does a completely new whiteboard sometimes. As for childhood, that's in bits and pieces.

You are not alone. Although I'm not sure if it's depression or medications.

Yes! This happens to me all the time! I find it worsens when there is more stress in my life. I really think this is a normal symptom to stress.

When it happens, yes it is very annoying and embarrassing but we need to give ourselves a break sometimes. I personally write important things down and or tape record myself. I write things down on a calendar also. Try to lessen your stresses if you can. Exercise helps me, so does talking to others.

Yes. It's horrible for me.
I have two degrees and I treasured a lifetime of knowledge, of literacy, of aesthetics.
All of that is now lost to me.
When I still had a sense of humor I used to laugh it off saying
"I've forgotten more than most ever bother to learn."
It's no fun. It's a tremendous loss of self that no amount of feel good band aids can help.

Hi breadfish.

I struggle with memory issues as well. I've come to the realization that I need my smartphone- the calendar, the reminders, the notes. I rely heavily on my phone, simply bc my memory is failing.
And, like PoorPrincess, I suffer the trauma of having lost some of my cognitive ability to recall knowledge or things once remembered. That has been the most traumatic aspect of mental illness for me.
You've come to a great place to find support.

Woundedhealer

Sent from my SCH-R970 using Tapatalk

I forget the exact term that my shrink used... but it was something like depression induced retardation.

sorry for being so politically incorrect but I literally laughed out loud when she basically called me retarded. (which is pretty much how I feel).

My mind is CRAP. Personally I believe that my suicide attempts have permanently damaged my brain.... my neuropsych testing said no. I do not believe it. I know that my brain was really good before (not elitist... but good enough to get a 4.0 in college). Now I have gotten "lost" literally driving home (the place where your brain should most easily remember when you are driving).

Sorry you are in this place too.

best wishes to you. (and I hope my retardation comments did not offend anyone).