Forgetfulness

[NightHawksr71]

I seem to have a really dodgy memory but I'm not exactly sure whats normal. I was kind of hoping for some confirmation that its not really normal or it is normal.
And help on what it could be I know you can't diagnose me but I just want to know what the heck could be with it if its not normal. My memory has been like this for as long as I .....don't remember really.

First things first I'll start off with my short term memory. I sometimes seem to forget things like 4 seconds, like I can look at my school timetable, even say what I have out loud, put my timetable in my pocket, then realise I have completely forgotten what it said, or I can remember for the next 30 minutes.

As for my long term memory, I don't remember much at all of the last 17 years of my life. I can remember some bits, and some more I can trigger with certain objects and stuff, but apart from those memories. nothing at all.

any ideas?

[JunkBondTrader]

Memory problems tend to be more neurological than psychological. Check it out with a neurologist if you're that worried, of course it's possible you just have a bad memory.

[Triceratops]

Memory problems tend to be more neurological than psychological. Check it out with a neurologist if you're that worried, of course it's possible you just have a bad memory.

^ What he said.

May I ask, are you experiencing any forms or situations related to stress, anxiety, worries or trauma of the sort? These could trigger or possibly be the root of the memory problems.

[Leprachaun]

lol i'm the same. not only am i forgetful i can be dopey aswell. like you said about the time table, i do that all the time or look at my phone to check the time then 5 seconds later i forget. and as for the dopeyness, I just dont know what im doing for example after breakfast i put the milk in the bowl cupboard and the cereal in the fridge (obviously not all the time) or stuff like that.

[byee]

The short answer is that you have a bad memory.

What's causing it would require a more thorough evaluation. Typically, it can range from a lack of concentration to some actual neurological impairment. And, it could be effected by psychological issues, ranging from stress or fatigue to depression or other more serious problems. All these can interfere with memory.

If you've 'always' had these problems, chances are it's just who you are. However, memory can be improved by paying more careful attention to details and making a conscious effort to 'remember' them.

[NightHawksr71]

Thanks for the replies.

Well, I'm not all that stressed or depressed so I don't think its that.
but I guess it could've been a possibility for other times in my life, I wouldn't know as I can't remember... obviously. I have tried concentrating on something to remember it but it never really works. I just don't see why I could have such a bad memory, events seem to be the worse as most of the things I don't remember are events and days in my life. No matter if I try to remember them or not.

[INFERNO]

People vary in their memory performance. Chances are, the information is getting into your brain (encoding). So there are four possibilities left: 1) The storage (most long-term memory) has something affected, 2) Your retrieval (recalling the memories) has something affected, 3) Both or 4) Neither.

By nature, our memory degrades with time. For some it degrades faster than others. There are numerous theories for memory encoding, and some possibilities for your forgetfulness may be that you're not recalling certain memories. Most theories are along the lines of as you recall the memory more and more, then it will become engrained more and more. If you only look at something for a bit and try to recall it, for some people, their eidetic memory performance is better than others. You can try to improve it be doing various memory games.

However, since you claim that this has always been the case, then the best you can try to do is improve it. You may have better performance at certain types of memory than others types but overall, some people have better memories than others.

If this is concerning you immensely, then see a neuropsychologist or a neurologist.

[NightHawksr71]

Its less of a concern and more of an annoyance, forgetting what I did earlier in the day or just did, or am in the middle of doing, can be a major irritation, especially at school.

Forgetting events can be annoying to, as Sometimes My family talk about events in my past and ask me how I felt, I can usually get away with a generic answer that doesn't really mean anything or get out of answering the question at all. This can be a annoying as well. Or My friends getting annoyed because they have to tell me about something that happened yesterday last week or 10 minutes ago because I don't remember anything about it.

I was thinking about seeing a doctor when I'm 18 and can do it by myself. Just to see if there is anything wrong because it is starting to get ridiculous.

[Yesterdays Hero]

Well, I don't think you have a type of forgetfulness that can be classified as an illness, I believe your forgetfulness is just an annoyance, not an actual problem, some people have good memory, some don't, the only time forgetfulness may become an illness for you, is when you get old, you could get dementia.

[NightHawksr71]

Well, I don't think you have a type of forgetfulness that can be classified as an illness, I believe your forgetfulness is just an annoyance, not an actual problem, some people have good memory, some don't, the only time forgetfulness may become an illness for you, is when you get old, you could get dementia.

Not meaning this in a nasty way, but I didn't think it was an illness, I was just wanting peoples opinions on it and maybe some tips for improving it would be helpful.

[nievesalvarez]

Hi,

I read your problem regarding to your memory.Well if you really feel so then please don't wait.do communicate to the neurologist.He is only could solve your problem and suggest you the best way to solving your problem.Thank you for sharing the comment..

[Hyper]

Please look at post dates in the future - good that you want to help - not good you bring back a topic that is 2 months inactive