Memory problems

[InCreator]

I've suffered under memory loss problems lately. (No not computer memory)

I mean, someone calls, I make a promise and about 10 seconds later, it's wiped out.
All the time! Especially at work. Making notes help somewhat but when I'm busy and multitasking, note-taking is not an option.

What to do? I'm also not sure what branch of medicine deals with this and what kind of doctor to attend if I do need one or if it's even treatable. I'm 26, no way I'm getting old yet. But memory fails and fails...

[Andail]

This seems to be mostly about your short term memory?

I think short term memory loss can be due to a number of rather mundane reasons; stress, depression, bad sleep, alcohol/drugs etc etc.

It's also rather easy to train if you really want to improve.

[Anian]

They say for example when you meet somebody and they tell you their name - repeat it (don't know if that works, I usually forget to repeat it) - should work with other stuff, sort of moving information partly to your long term memory.

There was some article about how Peggle or Tetris or something (I think even Sudoku was mentioned), increases your recognition skills and color recognition and similar traits, but it seems that your short term memory suffers and stuff like what you describe happens - not saying you should stop playing games, but something similar might be affecting you. Good news is that it's reversible/repairable and just stoppping the activits or doing something else or doing short term memory exercises helps.
Try to put a few things on the table and then repeat what they are with your eyes closed, stuff like that. Or view a photo and try to describe it without looking. That'll also tell you if it's really something to worry about.

Though it'll probably be related to what Andail said - stress and just being overworked.

[SinSin]

Stop smoking so much Green lolz

[InCreator]

No drugs/alcohol/green at all, stress... well, its constant past 7 years or so, I wouldn't say it had gotten much worse lately.
Bad/lack of sleep to me is what engine is to a car... still doesn't explain such sudden change.

Training might work yes, but also doesn't explain quick change. As artistic guy, I had excellent memory on details, appearance. Programming added memory for variables... it's like all gone in a split second

Art aside, variables I DO NEED.
As a packaging designer, my work is all about variables, measurements, quick tasks i have to do etc.
And it's quite hard since variables usually change quickly and very little...

Typical three phone calls from client or sales agent with 30 minutes between each

"This box is 32x32x15mm" < I change design >
"Oh wait, it's 32x33x16.5mm" < I change design >
"No it was still what I said at first, I hope you remember because I don't" < etc >

I was able to multitask, catch those calls while doing something absolutely different AND still remember later to make changes. Even if it was 30 phone calls about totally different stuff to remember. Not counting e-mails, skype, MSN Messenger, and of course, talking directly.
But now....

Lately occurring memory problems turned my otherwise okay job into a nightmare. Every forgotten thing costs loads and loads in terms of time, hard cash, work hours of whole production team, and of course, reputation. If I run out of last one due mistakes, I'm outta job.

And i don't know what to do

[Adrian  ]

I've been having the same problem recently I can literally ask my friend a question he give me his reply then I'll ask him something that he's just told me (usually multi tasking but still) I did worry about it for a bit I was starting to suspect it's my over use of computers, particularly stumbleupon where I will view a website for a couple of seconds before quickly moving on destroying my short term memory

It's strange because it's seemed so sudden but I suppose you would never notice unless it became a problem, now that I'm aware of the problem I just try concentrating harder it seems to be working just assumed it to be second nature before.

[Andail]

Well, let's play with the thought that this isn't something purely medical - which we at AGS aren't qualified to diagnose either way - and suppose that it might have to do with a combination of the following:
1. Too much stress - doesn't matter if it's been the same over years, at some point your brain might just have had enough
2. Too little sleep - same as above
3. Too much work in front of a computer monitor
4. Too little physical activity

I would recommend - in all my laymanship - a week or two with the following routines:
1. Physical exercise. You must walk outside at least 30 mins a day, preferably an hour for a healthy young adult.
2. Max 1 hour of computer work at a time, then 5-10 mins break. After 4 hours of computer work you take at least 30 mins off.
3. Go to bed before eleven. No TV or computer time just before bed.

[Snake]

That is great advice, Andail. I have the same problem. I'm only 28, but it seems that as the years go by, my memory gets worse. No drugs for me, but I do drink a significant amount of alcohol during the course of the afternoon. I'm not falling down drunk, passing out, stumbling, sluring words or anything, I'm still coherent and able to function. My wife drinks more than me and there's nothing wrong with her memory. On the subject of alcohol...

*takes swig of ale*



Anyway, twice this morning I went into the bedroom to get something and as soon as I walk across the room, I go blank. What the hell was I getting? 5 minutes later I'd remember. This happens quite often.

Sometimes I can be in the middle of a conversation and forget what I was talking about, hours later I'll remember, but by then it's insignificant to what we are talking about at that point - so me being excited that I remembered what I was saying is in vain. Luckily by nightfall I have alcohol as a disguise and to use as an excuse.

It is quite the serious problem, InCreator, I know exactly how you feel.

[InCreator]

So you're getting motherly with me 6 hours before release of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 AND a weekend



But yeah, I'll TRY to rest more next week. Thanks for advice.

Since I don't own a car, am in near-perfect shape (minus smoking) and get nice < 0C estonian climate even more than hour per day, physical-part should be alright.
Computer is something I can hardly reduce - as I said, office worker here and in the insane rush also known as "workday", 30-minute breaks are suicidal idea. I get my eye breaks though, because I go to smoke or just to think about ongoing work quite often. Outside, I mean.

I personally suspect the main problem... overheating. in brains!1
Package design is crazy middle between engineer, architect and rocket scientist - but I don't have a week or even more than few hours per project often, so I must pump out new solutions and ideas all the time and several times a day. All under strict deadlines and zero-tolerance on making mistakes.
Which is a paradox, because person who's afraid of failure isn't creative.

Then again, it's helluva awesome. Quite often, I have no idea what I'm doing while clock ticks to a deadline and adventure ends somehow still getting everything invented and working/produced in time.

When I started a bit less than 2 years ago, I quickly started to lose hair. Also, it's a work that doesn't end at 5 o'clock. I sometimes seek solutions to open problems even when sleeping or playing or whatever. Automatically.
At some point, I adapted to the high-stress and heavy daily "working with head", but maybe it was simply an illusion?

If so, it's really bad. Then I could expect random new mental or medical problems popping up anytime.

[Adrian  ]

You do sound quite the busy man, you should keep this thread updated so we can see your progress either your slow demise into mental illness or you become some sort of memory man solving crime

Either way it'd be interesting to read and probably help you see improvements, then you can release it as a best selling book "how InCreator beat stress and memory loss in 21 days!"

Photoshop yourself on to a super heroes body add unreasonable amount of lens flair BAM front cover to your book, you may think I'm getting ahead of myself but maybe I'm not going far enough!

[Bulbapuck]

I'm gonna say the obvious thing here: go see a doctor.

The best thing you're gonna get out of a forum thread are guesses. Some might be good, and some might be not so good. And if this is having a large effect on your life (wich seems to be the case), then you need something better then guesses.

Even if the doctor can't find the problem he/she can point you in the right direction.

[InCreator]

You do sound quite the busy man, you should keep this thread updated so we can see your progress either your slow demise into mental illness or you become some sort of memory man solving crime

Either way it'd be interesting to read and probably help you see improvements, then you can release it as a best selling book "how InCreator beat stress and memory loss in 21 days!"

Photoshop yourself on to a super heroes body add unreasonable amount of lens flair BAM front cover to your book, you may think I'm getting ahead of myself but maybe I'm not going far enough!

I describe my job in this thread because of two reasons: first, I think that nature of my job (or rather stress it induces) is the reason and two - same thing makes working impossible. Which to me, IS a problem. There's no superhero story here even if you'd want to see it, I'm quite sure average software developer or salesperson deals with same amount of mental stress. Forgot to write such a disclaimer? Silly me! Now, if you'd untie me from stake and put away the matches, maybe you can see...

...that it's the reason of this thread. Maybe it was a mistake? Oh well. I make these often lately...

Still, I'm sure many people here simply have their method of staying organized and sharp in such routine. Or experienced similar unwanted disconnection and loss of focus. For me, it's very sudden, shocking and disorienting, so I honestly don't know what to do.

Maybe yoga? Maybe Ritalin? etc

But I guess basic tips already gave would improve situation atleast some amount.

Doctor? Which one? Or maybe I'll go to a general doctor (dunno how it's called, but we have "family doctor" assigned to every citizen, basically for writing excuses and antibiotics due common cold) and he leads me to correct one? I'm somewhat afraid that I'd be ridiculed and thrown out - I really don't know if "forgetting everything too often" classifies as a legal condition to see one.

[Jakerpot]

I got this too.

When i get the keys from the desk, some minutes later, i'm looking for the key 

Actually i'm very very detalist (is this the word? I meant 'detalista' in portuguese), so i can describe a picture without looking at it, but some minutes later i can barely remember what i was going to do. I can remember pictures and places, but not names, directions and some kind of tasks. I think i have too much information in my mind, so it could be erasing some useless things... I don't know! My mind is really full of things; From technology, languages, technical terms and large knowledge of everything to conspiracy teories, architeture, history and books. To be sincere, i think i have so much info that i some i can't remember in the right time, like there is some kind of info in an upper layer, than to get another kind of info you have to raise it up and lower the other one... AHHHHHHHHH I'm confused... OK, i will shut up.

[Stupot]

No way would you be ridiculed, mate.  They'd probably send you to see someone to talk to... if it is stress they may sign you off work for a couple off weeks... you probably just need a good holiday.

I'm considering going to see someone myself for similar kinds of reasons... I'm having really bad motivation and concentration problems... most of my peers say they feel the same, but I don't think they quite understand .  It has genuinely affected my grades and I'm severely falling behind my classmates in Japanese.  It's not like I'm trying to be lazy... it's like some unknown force seems to be literally blocking me from concentrating, and the harder I try the less able I am to study...

I spoke to my tutor about it and she suggested I have a chat with one of the on-campus councellors.  She said maybe they could tease out what's wrong (if anything) and help to rectify the situation.  I immediately poo-poo'd the idea at first, but it's gotten so bad that I'm considering going for it.

So InC.  Let's make a deal... if you go and see someone about your memory, I'll go and see someone about my being a shite student.