Ptsd: How Does It Affect Your Short Term Memory

[Astrid_Shadow]

Hi guys. Its been a while since we had a nice long chat so I'm gonna give you guys some more news on whats going on with me. Recently I've been having problems with my memory. I can remember things that happen years ago but stuff that happened involving my child and my ex's family are blank. Does PTSD cause memory blanks or is there something else I should be worried about. My sister says its repression. That my brain is choosing to block out those memories cause they cause stress but then to top it all off my mom doesnt believe me when I say I don't remember. She thinks im lying about it. I honestly don't remember things I've done. I apparently said things I have no memory of saying and now I'm being looked at as a liar.
What are your opinions on ptsd and memory problems.
Thanks in advance for reading.

 

[gealach]

Does PTSD cause memory blanks or is there something else I should be worried about.

Hi Astrid, I can't say for sure what ptsd does or doesn't do to an individual, but I can say for sure that I also have breaks in my memory so you aren't alone in this.

Some of my breaks are minutes long, but some are weeks or months long. With the short memory breaks, I have absolutely no memory, like my brain took a vacation and forgot to bring me along. With the long memory breaks, I remember certain incidents or emotions that are negative, but nothing more. And yet for all those time periods, I was functioning, and interacting with people, and going through my day.

So what you are describing is absolutely believable. :hug:

 

[Astrid_Shadow]

Omg I am so glad I'm not alone. I'm glad I can relate to someone.
I know that feeling. When it comes down to memories I'm not even sure whats real and whats not anymore. My memory blanks are only for certain things though and my brain tells me "It happened like this" or "It happened like that" and then I get told opposite and I look like I'm making up stories when I'm not. I'm just telling people what I remember which clearly isnt much. Then the stuff I do remember people tell me I'm lying. Like when my adoption mother told me on the phone that my exs mom asked her for some money then today my adoption mom gets confronted on it and denies it so now again I look like the liar.
Thank you *hugs* for making time for this loser.

 

[gealach]

You're not a loser @Astrid_Shadow!!!!! I forgot to mention above that I also have short term memory problems.

It may be worth it for you to see a doctor, just to rule out a (physical) medical issue for the memory loss - something as simple & common as anemia was part of my issue, so you never know.

Do you have a therapist? If so, you should bring this up.

 

[Astrid_Shadow]

Thank you @brokenEMT I'm gonna make an appointment with my doctor. Yes I have a therapist I'm gonna be seeing her on Thursday and boy do I have a lot to tell her.

 

[gealach]

I'm so glad that you'll be able to see both of them, and get some help. It's so hard not to take it personally when our families are being douchewaffles.

 

[Astrid_Shadow]

Yeah I know what thats like. Tomorrow were gonna be talking to my ex's mother about the court conditions so we don't need to do court anymore.

 

[gealach]

For your son?

 

[Sophie's Daddy]

Hi guys. Its been a while since we had a nice long chat so I'm gonna give you guys some more news...

Hi guys. Its been a while since we had a nice long chat so I'm gonna give you guys some more news...

Hi, Astrid,

Here's my 2 cents on memory and CPTSD. Like you, I consistently have intermittent memory problems, both short and long term.

But most of the questions I have about my memory loss involve not just past trauma, but head injuries I sustained during risky behaviors I engaged in throughout my 20's and earlier.

My low self-esteem led me to try to "prove my manhood" through such crazy behaviors, and before finally cutting ties with toxic family members, they had told me I was making up my memories to suit my selfish perspectives.

What was really happening was a classic case of scapegoating. So,not only did I find myself with memory problems, but also with ex-family who doubted the veracity of my memories. Sheesh!

The many TBI's I've had over the years were the icing on the cake; it's taken me many years to learn to trust my memories, both short-and long-term.

Even then, though, I do it all with the aid of a daily journal. Anything important enough to remember I write down immediately.

I'm an amputee, so I use a word processing app on my phone via voice recognition.

It's quick and handy, to-the-point plus whatever fine details I might need later are usually triggered when I read the entry later.

Given my one-armed challenges in writing stuff down, remembering things through my smart phone came way easier than learning to put on deodorant with only one ! Oh yeah, and learning that I don't have to prove my manhood to anybody. (–: