I just dont even know anymore please help!

Hi my name is Andrey and I think have short-term memory loss.


I have neverwent to the doctor yet or talked about this with anyone.


I struggle to remember the simplest of tasks, like remembering a phone number, reading material that i can't even recall what i just clearly read.



I can't even remember what happened yesterday, or the day-before clearly and i struggle to remember where i put my keys, wallet or whatever it is i always misplace it and can't find it.

I'm always losing focus on daily tasks and its harder to complete them and doing the things i enjoy is more and more difficult to focus on and frustrates me.


I'm not sad, desperate or anything, but this frustrates me more than anything and its been going on for a while but its starting to effect my school work that's why I'm seeking your guys' help.

 

not remembering where you put your keys/wallet/whatever isn't really a big deal, you can easily combat this kind of issue but either paying more attention to where you're putting your shit, or have designated places where you put them when you don't need them. as for not being able to remember what you've read after reading, perhaps you should slow down and really try to process what you're reading, instead of just reading over it. this used to happen to me all of the time, especially in school reading something I had no interest in i.e. some textbook, so I would slow down, and write down key points of the paragraph i read on a separate sheet of paper. turned out to be a fantastic study tool later on.

however shit like barely being able to recall what you did the day before is somewhat alarming. really, if you can afford to see a doctor, it's for sure worth a trip as you never know what could be wrong.

 

Do you think not remembering any music lyrics is a problem? I mean I can't even recall the lyrics to a song to it's entirety. For the reading part, I've tried studying the material slowly, rewriting the material and reading the material aloud a lone to myself. Sometimes, when i'm taking tests, quiz's, i remember how the question was structured and i remember the right answer if the answer is written on paper is how can remember for a short while, but if someone asks me the same question in person via from the test or quiz, that i previously answered i couldn't remember the right answer.....other than that no matter what i do, i just don't remember like others do. I always take the longest to finish tests and quiz's...if that means anything. Sorry for my English, it's my second language.

 

You might have a condition where you are stressed all the time and very tired so you keep forgetting things because your focused on going to sleep and resting I suggest go see your local gp ( dr)

 

If it's really that bad, go see a doctor if possible.

 

See a doctor.
Another thing, everyone forget things. I don't remember anyone's number other than my own and my dad because I have them all in my cell phone. I also lose track of the books I've read at times because I don't tend to care most of the time and I sometimes forget where I put my wallet/phone. It's normal but you probably tend not to care so much. I suggest you buy a small notepad and write whatever you experiences and reread it at the end of the day or two or week. When you read it, it should put up in your memory block and you can recalled what happen exactly. If not, see a doctor right away. Good luck on your situation.

 

I mean, this isn't something random strangers on an internet forum can really help you with. all we can do here is suggest advice, and right now I think the best advice anyone can give is see a doctor.

 

Dude, go to a doctor. Your condition could be worsening, and your neglect isn't helping.

Go. Like now.

 

Often times we are caught up in daily events. We experience more than 2 billion stimuli per day. Our bodies naturally eliminate the majority of these in fractions of a second. For example... If you are out to eat and you are chatting with your family, and all of a sudden someone at the table behind you says your name, your body will tune you into their conversation, even though they didn't speak louder and they didn't mean it to be addressed to you. This is the theory behind selective attention and the cocktail party effect (psychological names).

As for the phone number, your standard phone number is 9 digits. Short term memory has a capacity between 5-9 numbers/characters. The process of remember comes in steps. These steps are as follows:
Sensory Memory----> short term memory -----> long term memory

Sensory Memory (SM): the stimuli entering your body. Touches, smells, sights. In order for the information to be passed to short termory, your body must subconsciously recognize it as relevant information. If it is, the body then passes it on to short term memory (STM)

Short Term Memory (STM): congrats! Something in your body recognized a stimuli as relevant to your life (lady friend's phone number)! Now that you're in STM you have a few vital steps to actually rember the info. For the next 30 seconds or so, these 5-9 digits can easily be recalled. After that, new info will be entering your STM, so these 30 seconds are crucial. You need to do somethjng called rehearsing. This could be as simple as saying the numbers over and over or making a phenomic device to remember it! If you are having trouble rehearsing to get from STM to Long term memory (LTM), then I'd recommend you look up a method called "chunking." This method helps us to convert from SM to STM and now to LTM.

Long Term Memory (LTM): this is where the info is finally in your head and can be recalled later! However, sometimes your brain may forget where you put the info or it may be hidden from your hippocampus (hippo). Your hippocampus is a part of the brain that retrieves data, essentially, although it is not a physical structure. If you cannot remember, then you may need what's called a retrieval cue. Often times this cue can unlock where the memory lay. It is referred to as an "Ah-ha!" When you realize it. This is the basic principle of why retracing your steps can work.


If I'd have to take a guess as to what was "wrong with you" (using that loosely as I'm sure you understand!), I would take a gander as to it's a problem with your hippocampus, or retrieving memories. If this is the case, you should visit your primary physician and ask for a referral to a neurology division. They'll probably just put a few electrodes on your head (no pain, just a sticky gel in your hair that lets them read the electric signals in your brain). Then they'll ask you to recall information. Or they may put you in an MRI/FMRI machine (kind of like a tube with a big whirling magnet that lets them see your brain), and ask you the same questions.

I've taken a few highly advantaged neuroscience courses and this was just a brief neuropsychology response. If anything is unclear, or you have more questions, don't hesitate to PM me!

-IRL

 

You should see a doctor. You might just have trouble focusing on things due to stress or whatever else is going on in life. Try to leave yourself reminders, it helps

 

Sometimes it may be the stress that get to you, and sometimes its just harder to remember things for some people. However if it really bothers you I suggest seeking professional help so that you can find out what the problem is. Ultimately it will ease your pain knowing rather than wondering what is wrong with you. I wish you all the best tho

 

go see a doctor. you probably have short term memory loss, nothing to worry about, isn't too serious at all.