Complete Time Lapse Memory Loss/blackouts

[PandaBear12212]

Okay, right now I am trying my best to finish typing a biology lab paper but I can not concentrate for the life of me and it's really wearing me down. Lately I've developed a new symptom: blackouts. There will be times when I look at the clock and it's say, 2:00pm. Then I go into this sort of frozen, comatose state. I know I am not asleep during this time, but I'm not conscious.

I know I am not sleeping during this time because I have a very vague muscle memory of the colors around the room I am in during this time (so my eyes weren't closed and I wasn't asleep). However the next time I come into full conscious awareness it will be around 2:45pm and I don't remember a thing of what I did during those minutes. It's not quite like dissociation, but I go into sort of a hypnotic state where I'm awake but completely unresponsive and I can't remember anything.

My therapist says it's because of my lack of sleep, and that part of my brain is shutting off and "sleeping", but not quite. I am very distressed and confused about these blackouts because I hate not being able to remember what happened and it's scary to me that I am literally blacking out.

Also, occasionally during these time lapses I will come into awareness and find texts I send to people on my phone that make absolutely no sense. For example, a friend had texted me about a homework assignment, and I replied back with random letters, "...R h Fzl". Like that. I'm so confused :nailbiting::inpain::arghh;:cry:

 

[NewDayTomorrow]

you could be having migraine aura. Sometimes you can have it even without headache. I'm not doctor, but that happens to me, causing memory blackouts and trouble with language. Or it could be something else, like lack of sleep as you say...definitely talk to your doctor(s) but also try not to worry. For now, maybe just assume your brain is forcing you to give it some rest, and try to tell yourself that this is your body's way of telling you to slow down. Good luck with your paper. If you can't focus, you may as well take a break unless you are coming up on a deadline.

 

[fly away home]

Ah this does sound like a lack of sleep. 45 minutes is a typical sleep cycle so your brain is trying to do what it can to get the rest it needs to function. I have had these too. I actually drool lol! (so embarrassing). It happens when I am having a quiet moment at a desk with no distractions. Do you take medication so you can get some sleep. It sounds like you really need to rest.

 

[PandaBear12212]

I've tried medications but I'm still wide awake :/ the only things that actually successfully put me to sleep is NyQuil or alcohol (bad, I know). My paper is due tomorrow so I cant rest :( But it's so hard to write a paper when I cant concentrate, I keep blacking out, and I cant even remember the lab anymore I'm just going off the notes I took that day.

 

[Anna]

Lack of sleep can have a horrible effect on your brain.

Sometimes someone will tell me something and a few minutes later I will forget and ask them what they just said :(

Also my family have told me somethings about holidays or day trips which I have just completly blacked out. I cannot remember any of it at all. They just pass it off as being boring at the time, even though I would have been old enough to remember. I wrack my brains but cannot remember it. I just remember colours, like green for going to a show and orange for another trip. It is totally bizarre.

Also if someone says something I do not like or is scary to me, I just do not hear it, it is like selective hearing. I filter out things that may hurt me.

If I am really tired I forget even more.

Tiredness can have not only a bad effect on the brain but also on the body. Also if you are studying it can keep you awake as your mind is active. Try fixing a certain time to go to bed. The body and mind loves routines. An hour before going to bed stop studying. Have a warm bath, make a warm drink. I sometimes drink Russian chocolate which is a hot chocolate with a little bit of alcohol in it ;) and try winding down. Read a book in a dim light, but a story, nothing to do with studying, something to wind your brain down, maybe with calm music in the background.