How do you retrain your memory?

Not sure where this goes, but I have always had a bad memory. As I get older, I remember less and less about my childhood, only bits and pieces. I have purposefully forgotten my entire experience of middle school because it was so terrible. I enjoyed high school and remember quite a bit, but around the time of my diagnosis my senior year is a bit fuzzy. There's actually a waitress at a Mexican restaurant who comes up to me all the time who clearly knows me and asks how I am, but I have no idea who she is or whether I know her from high school or college. Even with my best friend there are things I don't remember. She's always telling me, "Oh, remember that time we did this and you were doing that?" and I say, "No, I don't remember that."

I know this has a lot to do with my constant daydreaming. I've always had characters to keep me company, even now. I had a hard time socializing in school and only have one true best friend and a couple friends I see when I go camping, so I spend most of my time off in another world.

How can I get my memory back? Maybe not necessarily remember things in the past, but I'd like to learn how to be in the present and remember what's going on in my life.

I struggle with my memory too. Past and present. I have accepted that I probably won't get too many of my past memories back but I am working on my more current memories. Yes, my fantasy world interferes with them too. One thing I've found extremely helpful is massive amounts of journaling. Writing about my life events helps them stick in my mind. Also, I can go back and read events and that helps too. I hope you get better--I have....D.

I have a whole period of my life from the age of 41 until about 51 that is basically my black hole.....can't remember much of anything that happened during that time except for a few things here & there & timeline is completely gone.

As far as remembering back into my childhood....60 years ago.....I realize that being an only child & not having anyone to share memories with....they got completely lost. I lived for the day....not to remember it but as a step to go onto a life that I wanted to live....not what I was living. I was always aiming for the future, not living in the past.....so I don't remember much about my childhood either....just a few things here & there but very few specific things.

I think the DBT mindfulness is what I found helps me think & stay in the present....trying to see the big picture of the life experience I am living NOW.....& that is usefull for the wise mind in choosing the best actions given the big picture that is my life.

I know that living in a stressful situation, I had a horrible time remembering anything specific about it.....& it has only been since I left that marriage situation 6 years ago that I have been able to pull more of the parts together.

Not sure there is any good way or any sure way of solving what you are wanting.....really not sure that what you are experiencing isn't really what is normal????

I used to daydream a lot. That created a few problems for me as reality and fantasy sometimes meshed together. Daydreaming too much is like running your mind in neutral gear and it seems you lose some concentration skills in the process. Maybe you can give this exercise a try....... look at an object, say a plain lamp. Focus your attention on it , then close your eyes and try to visualize that lamp. Then open your eyes, and compare all the details you were able to capture in your mind, such as the color, the shape, the surounding objects. The goal is to remember everyting. You may find it tiring as first, but keep at it. The mind is like a muscle, and has to be exercised. Or try those picture puzzles were you compare two pictures and note the minor differences in them. Hope this was helpful and Good Luck!

Sometimes I blank out as I'm talking on a topic with people and have no clue why.