My memory is so unreliable now

[EmilyR]

My memory has been horrible since my trauma. I was on a first date last night and I forgot the guy's name....it was straight out of a nightmare. I was midsentence and was about to say it and then just completely blanked for an entire minute. It eventually came to me, but it was humiliating. He didn't know about my ptsd, so there wasn't even a good way to explain. So frustrating. Like dating isn't hard enough

 

[desiderata310]

I always begin by telling people that I have a memory like swiss cheese and to please not take it personally if I flake and can't remember a name or something and laugh, tell them I am doing good most days to remember my own name and to push the matter home, I ask them what their name is (even if I know it right then) and then laugh, tell them I knew that and move on.

Add to that the just mere anxiety of dating and oh holy shit!

 

[nowthisisme]

OMG i thought i was the only one with memory issues!! So PTSD can be the cause of all my memory loss?!? It has become so bad that im like you, i would forget someones name in seconds!

 

[mumstheword]

Yep, so me, and my partner. He has the added compounded memory issue of having a brain injury from being bashed in the head on top of it though. It's so socially debilitating!
It happens with people we know well though, too! Too too too embarrassing!
Talk about undermining social confidence!
I love how you deal with it desiderata! I am more light-hearted and tell people I have memory problems about it sometimes, when the occasion allows for it, but my poor guy has real trouble coming back from that and says to me that he's a "social pariah" because of it. It's a shame because he really is the most beautiful, intelligent, thoughtful and kind man.

 

[EveHarrington]

I have this issue, too.

Sometimes I can play it off.

Other times it can be embarrassing as I need someone to finish my sentences for me!

:hug: