[ak482]

This is so humiliating. I am 36 years old and cannot remember anything. I cannot remember passwords I changed 10 minutes ago. Not only humiliating, but scary. No one my age forgets this stuff except me. I won't write anything down, lest someone look around & find these & hack my accounts. Is there anything I can do to strengthen my memory so I stop being a complete blithering idiot?

[piggy momma]

Is this new? I would see your doctor if this is new and abnormal behaviour.

[amandalouise]

Originally Posted by ak482

This is so humiliating. I am 36 years old and cannot remember anything. I cannot remember passwords I changed 10 minutes ago. Not only humiliating, but scary. No one my age forgets this stuff except me. I won't write anything down, lest someone look around & find these & hack my accounts. Is there anything I can do to strengthen my memory so I stop being a complete blithering idiot?

in order to h ave accounts online you have to have email account. what I do is put a file in my email account for passwords and confirmations. I write an email to myself what the account is and what the password that goes with that account is. that way any time I forget my password because of my meds and such I just visit my email account.

my emoail account is something that I never forget...

obnoxious things like I brush my teeth every day or I watch the same tv show every day...

something that is part of my every day life.

i also tell at least one person what my password and account is (example my wife knows) that way when i forget some one else knows.

my suggestion is think about your life and what is that one thing you do every day (everyone has that one habit, hobby or behavior or routine that they do every single day) make your passwords something to do with that.

maybe go online during the same time every day so that that will jog your memory.

[Skeezyks]

Here are links to 5 articles, from PsychCentral's archives, that discuss ways to improve one's memory:

8 Tips for Improving Your Memory

Strategies for Improving Memory

Memory and Mnemonic Devices

4 Ways to Supercharge Your Working Memory for Free

5 Tips for Keeping Your Memory Sharp!

For passwords, do what I do and use a password vault. Something like LastPass, StickyPassword, or another similar software.

They store all of your passwords in an encrypted password vault that is unlocked by one master password. The encryption is similar to what banks and government websites use to protect your information. They will let you generate a random password for each account or app and store your username and password in the vault and easily copy/past everything into the login page when you need to log in.

I have premium StickyPassword myself. You can buy it for a one time fee of around $120 or purchase a monthly subscription. I get easy, secure access to my password across all of my devices which makes me life so much easier. I lucked out and got it at a deep discount for being a student but it would still be worth it to purchase at full price.

If nothing else, it beats remembering 30+ different passwords.

[Quarter life]

Deterioration of cognitive ability, memory, executive function can all be signs of illness...however they may also be due to hormone imbalance and even lack of restful sleep. I would most definitely speak to a trusted GP just to rule out anything sinister.

Be well ak482

[MickeyCheeky]

I'm so sorry you're struggling, ak482 If this problem is common, I'd suggest to see a doctor. Maybe that could help. You could also find some ways to help your memory. There may be several causes for this. Wish you good luck! Let us know how it goes. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this

Hello ak482. I am sorry that you are struggling with memory issues. There can be many reasons for changes in memory; temporary or otherwise. I think your first step would be to go for testing and information.

Your MD can refer you to either a Neuropsychologist or Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) for cognitive testing. Neuropsych folks tend to focus on testing only whereas an outpatient SLP can also provide therapy to improve attention, memory, and executive function if they assess you as a suitable candidate for treatment. You need the referral for testing from your MD first.

All of this of course depends on how you score on testing and what the professionals determine as a likely cause. You didn't mention if you have a history of learning disability, brain injury, or chronic illness. Some mental illnesses such as depression can reduce a person's ability to focus and therefore cause them to forget things. That can also happen when a person has a lot of anxiety. A good MD will look at the whole picture of your physical, emotional, and cognitive health. He/she might even suggest some bloodwork to check if you are running low on any important vitamins as that can affect cognition.

There are many options available for improving or compensating for cognitive impairment. Particularly given that you are so young and aware of your own abilities. I encourage you to openly discuss with your GP to get started. The longer you wait, the more likely you are to worry, and worrying alone can make it tricky to remember things.

Good luck and best wishes to you. I hope you find some answers and options.

[KD1980]

You're not an idiot. 💜

Gingko biloba is something that purports to improve memory. You could try taking that. I also recommend seeing a doctor.

[sarahsweets]

I have downloaded like two of these types of apps but never used them. Are they really that easy?

Originally Posted by DarknessIsMyFriend

For passwords, do what I do and use a password vault. Something like LastPass, StickyPassword, or another similar software.

They store all of your passwords in an encrypted password vault that is unlocked by one master password. The encryption is similar to what banks and government websites use to protect your information. They will let you generate a random password for each account or app and store your username and password in the vault and easily copy/past everything into the login page when you need to log in.

I have premium StickyPassword myself. You can buy it for a one time fee of around $120 or purchase a monthly subscription. I get easy, secure access to my password across all of my devices which makes me life so much easier. I lucked out and got it at a deep discount for being a student but it would still be worth it to purchase at full price.

If nothing else, it beats remembering 30+ different passwords.

Originally Posted by sarahsweets

I have downloaded like two of these types of apps but never used them. Are they really that easy?

Yes. The only annoying part is moving all your passwords to the vault.

Software is easy to use though not to mention it makes life so much easier not having to remember 40 different passwords.

[WishfulThinker66]

Okay, first of all don't knock yourself about because of this. You are not alone.

You haven't mentioned taking any medication. Doing so might be the cause of your memory problems. Do you find other 'brain' functions to be impeded or slowed down?

I myself suffer - and it can be greatly embarassing. There was a time I simply avoided conversations as I would literally forget words mid-sentence. I don't just forget things either. I am generally slower than I was before medication. I actually feel as though my IQ has dropped as a result. Particularly difficult are simple math functions and anything related to handling numbers.

This has resulted in some rather humiliating situations especially at my work. I am unable to perform simple athrimetic in my head and this has lead I am sure to my co-workers assuming I am dumb. When told I was coing to be trained at work for cash I had to admit to my supervisor why this would not be a good idea. It was horrible to tell her I was unable to do so.

With the exception of work though I have come to the realisation I was missing out on a great deal by avoiding situations (like conversations) where such difficulties arise. So I go ahead and risk them occuring. When they happen, I offer up the reason ("sorry, but my medication is making me forget"). People seem to then understand. I also challenge my brain daily with spending a little time doing puzzles like logic and sudoku.

My own humiliating horror? Shaking and tremmoring.

[AspiringAuthor]

What I did was giving up on it - I just click "forgot password" link and change password using multi-factor authentication. It is very fast, secure, and beats remembering or using extra software (for me).

Originally Posted by AspiringAuthor

What I did was giving up on it - I just click "forgot password" link and change password using multi-factor authentication. It is very fast, secure, and beats remembering or using extra software (for me).

I do that, too. All accounts are registered using an email, and you have to remember the password of the email. All other passwords can be reset from the email after pressing the "Forgot password?" link and provide your email address. Even the email's password can be recovered using the phone number if you provided it. Some email domains require a phone number.

[Medusax]

I went through that during menopause. (Hormone) I am pretty much back to normal now...go to a doc...maybe look at what might be stressing you out.

[Medusax]

Also...I keep a little black book with a list of my passwords. I make complicated ones. Whenever I change one I put the date of when I changed it. It helps.

[ak482]

Passwords are IMPOSSIBLE to remember. And I'm trying to remember them on multiple devices at home and at work. Too many requirements. I just want to use one password for everything. I've had to do a total of 15 resets today because I can't remember. I'm frightened because this can't happen to someone my age.

[AspiringAuthor]

If you feel frightened, talk to a neurologist - tell him or her about the 15 resets in one day.

[downandlonely]

For passwords, I have them in my iPhone and I use my fingerprint. No one else can access my stuff then and I don't have to remember everything.

[Fuzzybear]

Hugs....

[triom]

- It's good so long as you do not make humiliation get you too far down internally. It gets me disgusted when people play this game to make others feel deliberately repressed; it's poor and beneath the animal kingdom for animals to intentionally make others feel at a low internally, it's all a social power instinct practice unlike humans who inflict deliberate misery on others.

[TheNightWhistle]

Originally Posted by ak482

This is so humiliating. I am 36 years old and cannot remember anything. I cannot remember passwords I changed 10 minutes ago. Not only humiliating, but scary. No one my age forgets this stuff except me. I won't write anything down, lest someone look around & find these & hack my accounts. Is there anything I can do to strengthen my memory so I stop being a complete blithering idiot?

It's normal for people with a lot of stress to forget things because their mind is focused on their problems and not on what is happening right in front of them a lot of the time. Also, the fact that "forgot my password" buttons exist shows that you're clearly not the only person in the world who forgets

[AmberShaman]

Hi ak842

I'm younger than you by 4 years and I've been having memory issues for a few years, because of stress and fibro+CFS. I think I have an understanding of what you're going through as far as that's concerned, not only it feels humiliating but it's also very annoying... I don't write my passwords down either, because I don't trust myself not to lose them and forget where I've put them hang in there, you're not alone, hugs

[mountainstream]

Maybe try something like jigsaw puzzles, word puzzles etc...things like these help work your mind. it worked for me when I had issues. you can find tons of games on line and even cheap puzzle books in dollar stores.

something I did as well was make myself write using my weak hand. try copying a paragraph using your other hand..and doing it legibly. it will take forever at first but soon you'll be able to do it with skill and precision.

the brain is a muscle. if it gets weak, you do physical therapy and work it back I nto functional fitness.