Memory Problems

[Castalure]

I was first diagnosed with PTSD in 1986.
Since having been diagnosed with PTSD, I have been noticing that my memory problems have increasingly getting worst.
I have also noticed that the more anxious I am, the worst my memory gets. I am becoming increasingly concern about my memory constantly getting worst. I spoke to my therapist about this and he is convinced that my memory issues are directly related to my PTSD. Anyone else in this forum experiencing memory issues?

 

[Friday]

Yep. Absolutely. I don't have any good (or even bad) tips/tricks/advice about it, though. I've almost posed a version of this question dozens of times. Righ now is the worst it's ever been. I've lost months out of this year (a few days here, a week there), and it's both frustrating as blazes and scary. My memories just aren't logging as they should be. I don't know why. I don't know how to make it stop. I just know that the worse I am in PTSD-land, the worse my memory gets. When I start to improve, my memory also starts improving.

 

[ghotiff]

My memory is also shocking. I can remember academic type things really well (eg studying, researching, learning - any topic if I take an academic approach) but I have a hopeless memory for things that happen.

Just yesterday my youngest child started a to answer a question I had with "you probably don't remember but...."

It's pretty sad/hysterical when you intrinsically trust a child-under-10yrs memory more than your own.

 

[scout86]

I guess me too. Although my T says I also have some "ADHDish tendencies" which might be a factor too.

I was getting kind of worried that I was leaving therapy sessions and couldn't remember, shortly there after, what we'd talked about. One day, my T said something, I gave him a blank look, I guess, and he said, "I"ll bet there are lots of times when you don't remember later what we talked about, aren't there?" (Well, yeah, now that you mention it, there are!) He didn't really explain that, and I didn't ask. I kind of suspect that, when your brain is in high gear looking for saber toothed tigers it doesn't take the time to store a lot of data that's not directly survival related.

 

[Aqua11]

You are not alone... I have definitely experienced memory issues since the onset of my PTSD symptoms; for what it's worth, my therapist has assured me it's a normal trauma response. It can be scary and frustrating as hell, but I believe it to be temporary. Although you have been living with your PTSD for many years, it seems to me that symptoms can come and go, and that new ones can emerge depending on how you're experiencing your trauma at that time. Also, I don't know if you have insomnia or other sleep problems, but I think it's possible it could be related. Some of the things that have helped me are journaling and making lists. It's not a 100% fix, but it helps somewhat.

 

[mamachick]

Yes I experience memory problems, particularly short term memory. I will forget if I made a phone call or appointment, what I have done in the past week, almost like dissociating in that I can't account for time because I cant remember what all I did.

 

[ghotiff]

almost like dissociating in that I can't account for time because I cant remember what all I did.

Yes, but it's different eg I don't remember good things and little things.

 

[Aqua11]

Yes, but it's different eg I don't remember good things and little things.

Exactly. Some examples:

- I have had repeated instances of not remembering where I park my car and have had to walk around and around my building to find it. Worked myself into a bit of a panic over it since I was almost late to a few appointments.

- I didn't realize when I got home with my groceries that I left my keys in the door. This would have NEVER happened previously. I am way too aware of my personal safety to overlook something like that. I live a high rise apartment building. One of my neighbors saw that I left my keys in my door and knocked on my door, loudly and over what seemed like the course of several minutes. I flipped my sh*t and froze, panicked. I thought for sure it was my ex or my rapist... then again, why would they knock.

- I'm in one room and remember I need to go do something and then completely blank of what it was I was going to do. Retention just isn't there.

I'm not saying if you've ever done these things in your life, you have short-term memory issues... I'm just comparing it to my own baseline. None of these things ever happened before PTSD and it is certainly not age related in my case. I do think it's possible it is probably tied to my insomnia. Same reason why I am clumsy all of a sudden, knocking over water glasses etc.

 

[Tinyflame]

Yes I think stress & fear are the big causes. I've heard when we drop things etc we momentarily (for a split second) fall asleep, so insomnia as well.

But in a bigger way- memory-related - I think it's stress, fear, even dissociation. Distraction, when we are focused on other things.

Also, my memories encode but I can't often 'recall' them myself, but with an outside reminder I can. With severe suicidal ideation/ planning I couldn't recall anything much, for example 'people' but no memories, etc (constricted thinking?)

Notes help, & visual cues (eg I leave a piece of clothing on the floor to remember to get the laundry, etc).

Yes it's very frightening, sometimes. Then the fear makes it even worse.

 

[Go Hungry]

I have the same problem, a swiss cheese memory. It gets worse when I'm really in a bad state, which is normal because it's a symptom like any other, right? I'm in a pretty good state now, so I can remember most things without trouble. I brought it up to my T because I am really worried about it, and she said that the best thing to do was word search and crossword puzzles. She said they are scientifically proven to help improve memory and cognitive function, and even work to some degree on alzheimers patients. So I went by the dollar store and picked a few up. I've been doing them (and boy are some hard)... I haven't noticed any increase in my memory, but it's worth a shot.
:)