Been Having Problems With My Memory Lately

[aka]

So I need some advice as to what to do with some memory problems I have been having lately. I will say that I have been having trouble with both depression and anxiety symptoms lately so this probable has a lot to do with the memory problems. So for the last couple of months I have trouble remembering doing things I normally do just fine. These include taking my meds before going to work, setting my alarm at night, taking my keys with me before locking the car, and remembering that I had dismissed my alarm. But an episode at work this week has really got me worried. I feeling a bit paranoid about posting this so it is going to pretty general description of what happened.

At work I am responsible for finding "things" in the archive and giving them to others to work with. I noticed at some point that I had something in my pocket and it happened to be a couple of "things" from the archive. Now I remember looking and finding a "thing" from the containing that also had the two in my pocket but have no memory of putting them in my pocket. I remember putting the container they were in back were it belonged ( I guess I assumed they were in there). I put them back where they belonged without anyone noticing but am deeply concerned about why this happened and what possessed me to put them in my pocket in the first place.

I am guessing I blanked out for a couple of seconds with out noticing and went on like nothing happened only to find the evidence of the episode later. Anyone else every done something like this?

 

[silkleaves]

If it makes you feel any better...at this very moment, I have my boss' car keys. Thankfully, he has a spare set, and his car is much older than mine, so can't even muse I had a mind to steal it. lol

But yeah, stuff like this happens to me ALL the time. I put things in places they don't belong, I take things with me that don't belong to me. At any given time, I have stockpile of stuff I need to return to whoever it actually belongs to. And every so often I have to post on Facebook, "hey, I can't find my xyz, did I leave it with one of you??" The people who know me, just know that I'm not the sort who would do that on purpose...plus I keep leaving my stuff with other people so I'm an equal opportunity absent-minded taker and giver. LoL

Never actually even thought twice about it before you bringing it up now... Wish I had some advice for you, I can imagine with this being work related stuff, and from the sounds of it, sensitive "things" that seriously can't go missing or be found on you.

 

[Springer80]

Oh yes! In fact just today I had to make a sign for myself for the office door that says 'CLOSE THE JEFFIN' WINDOW'. I work in a ground floor office with thousands of pounds worth of pretty high spec computer/digital equipment in it. So it is pretty serious if I walk out leaving a security risk behind. I'm usually the last one out as my boss lets me start at 10am.

Cognition takes energy. I only really learned/realised that in my burnout. Prior to that I thought I was losing it.
In my burnout even reading was an effort I couldn't manage.

You are not going crazy or losing your faculties. You are just using too much processing power on other things.
I can see why it would worry in the context of your job. Why don't you just tell your boss you've been feeling a bit run down and fatigued and you noticed that you'd been forgetting stuff recently. It''s been bothering you a bit because you're worried it may come over as complacency but it really isn't.

Would they be receptive to that do you think?[DOUBLEPOST=1404517507,1404517324][/DOUBLEPOST]

I'm an equal opportunity absent-minded taker and giver

Share the love, spread the wealth (mayhem)! :giggle:

 

[Springer80]

I'd also tell people things and get the facts wrong and would sound like some weird fantasist probably. Like someone I'm related to (whose a motor sport racer/instructor) had topped out on a lap at 240 miles per hour!!! :eek: What I meant was kilometres per hour but my mind was just frazzled.

 

[KwanYingirl]

My friends and clients call me Forgetful Jones. A muppet from Sesame Street. They know they have to remind me of social engagements I've made.

 

[Springer80]

Forgetful Jones

Awwww, that's cute of them :)

'My name is Jones; Agent F. Jones.'
'Oh really! What does the F stand for?'
'Errrrrrmmmm...'

:giggle:

(Sorry, terrible joke :meh:, couldn't resist)

 

[Springer80]

On a practical note what about setting your phone alarm to go off at 4 every afternoon. Then you could check to make sure you haven't got any contraband on your person.

But I still think just vaguely telling your boss will ease the pressure off and that in turn may make your memory better.

 

[JEKBreatheandBelieve]

I have always prided myself on my ability to remember things ... until PTSD took over my brain! I forget things one second after thinking of it. Or I will be in the middle of doing something and suddenly have no idea what I am doing and can't remember. It is completely frustrating. I lose words and forget what I was saying. My son says "Mommy, you forget everything" often.

I don't know if this would work for you, but in terms of car keys. I have the kind of keys that have a key fab that has the lock buttons on it. I have trained myself to only lock the door with this button. Since the button is on the key, I then always have the key with me. Of course when struggling with forgetfulness, that could be hard to remember to do.

I use a lot of notes to remind me of things. @Springer80 - I have one that tells me to close the windows posted at the door to my classroom where I teach.

 

[aka]

and from the sounds of it, sensitive "things" that seriously can't go missing or be found on you.

Yeah, that is pretty much it in a nut shell. I am afraid of doing this again and potentially getting in a lot of trouble. I do many things at work to double check myself so to make sure I did it right. I am know to accidentally steal pens or forget what someone told me early. But this was much different in that it is completely out of character for me to put something in my pocket. Perhaps I am making too big of a deal out of this.

You are just using too much processing power on other things.

I agree with you Springer80. I have been having a hard time this week keep myself out of my own daydreams which is my main coping mechanism. It is almost a compulsion sometimes and it becomes harmful to my already limited concentration level.

But I still think just vaguely telling your boss will ease the pressure off and that in turn may make your memory better.

He already knows about my PTSD and is willing to give to work with me. The problem is that there is really only a few practical ways to accommodate me and they really don't help much. I have been thinking of changing my hours so I can go in later in the day since I have been having such a hard time getting up. The problem is actual doing it since I am already pretty stressed out a change in my normal routine such seems too much to handle. It does not help that I will be getting a new boss in the next month or two.

On a practical note what about setting your phone alarm to go off at 4 every afternoon. Then you could check to make sure you haven't got any contraband on your person.

This is actually not a bad idea thanks.

 

[silkleaves]

I actually have an alarm on my phone set to go off at 8am, 9am and noon. When I set those alarms, I had a really good reason for it, to remind me to do something. It's been almost a year now....and though my alarm goes off at 8am, 9am and noon every single day, I have absolutely no idea why LOL!! BUT when it goes off, I tend to go ahead and check my emails and see whats on my calendar for the day. That might actually be what I set my alarms for! No real idea though.

LoL @Springer80 !!! Yeah, the stuff I have left behind ranges from stuff I really need, like my purse and my phone...to insignificant things likea new pack of gum or cigarettes, to big stuff (that I havnt been able to get back!!!) like a portable dvd player and a watch.

So yeah, it's sort of like "Lets make a PTSD deal!" ...it really can be anything LOL!! But on the flip, what I take with me can be anything too. :P

 

[Springer80]

He already knows about my PTSD and is willing to give to work with me. The problem is that there is really only a few practical ways to accommodate me and they really don't help much. I e been thinking of changing my hours so I can go in later in the day since I have been having such a hard time getting up. The problem is actual doing it since I am already pretty stressed out a change in my normal routine such seems too much to handle. It does not help that I will be getting a new boss in the next month or two

Yes I hear you. At one point in my old job a boss offered for me to start at 9.30 but it wouldn't have helped at that point because whatever time I woke up my body felt awful. That as probably seven years ago. I now work 10-17.30 and I have Wednesdays off, so no more than two days work in a row.

Sounds to me like you need to start restng your body and mind more. Your already thinking about it via changing your hours. Your having such a hard time getting up.

The thing is my first suggestion wasn't a practical thing to do, it was telling him that you worry about coming over as complacent when your forgetful. That you worry that your colleagues may think you have a cavalier attitude. I.e. telling him how this makes you feel.
I wonder that your mentioning practical methods means that your trying to fight your ptsd by overcoming it?

Anyway, my main point. If your boss is leaving in two months. I would re-negotiate your hours now, under his rule. Your comfortable with him, he knows your condition. Even if you think it might not bring you any benefit at this point, I would negotiate a more suitable working pattern. Try it for a bit. The new boss won't be able to tear up your terms and conditions and you can see what sort of person they are. If you decide that the amendments made aren't helping you, then you go back to new boss and change them back to the regular pattern.

I would definitely make your hay whilst there's sunshine on this one.