Discussion
Generally speaking I'd say I have a good memory. I don't need to write everything down, I don't miss appointments or forget where I live. I drive lots of different cars and am totally self sufficient. My health is excellent. I don't lose things or forget where I've put them.
However, following a move I've been trying to get all my paperwork sorted out which has been in storage and which involves going over all sorts of documents and records and filing them properly. Certain things and chunks of time just seem to have disappeared from memory and these things are pretty much exclusively pre-and mid Covid. That was a very difficult period for me in some aspects of my life and business when my anxiety levels were super high, something which is very unusual for me.
None of this has given me any measurable problems as yet and if we talked about the last year or two there don't seem to be any gaps at all and my daily life is absolutely fine. I've asked my partner and friends and they say they I seem normal, at least in the terms they measure me by!
The reason for posting is interest more than anything. Everyone has heard about people losing their memory after a bang on the head but that isn't what happened to me. Just wondered if anyone else has been similarly affected, what you think caused it and whether it has come back.
However, following a move I've been trying to get all my paperwork sorted out which has been in storage and which involves going over all sorts of documents and records and filing them properly. Certain things and chunks of time just seem to have disappeared from memory and these things are pretty much exclusively pre-and mid Covid. That was a very difficult period for me in some aspects of my life and business when my anxiety levels were super high, something which is very unusual for me.
None of this has given me any measurable problems as yet and if we talked about the last year or two there don't seem to be any gaps at all and my daily life is absolutely fine. I've asked my partner and friends and they say they I seem normal, at least in the terms they measure me by!
The reason for posting is interest more than anything. Everyone has heard about people losing their memory after a bang on the head but that isn't what happened to me. Just wondered if anyone else has been similarly affected, what you think caused it and whether it has come back.
Transient global amnesia? That can be triggered by stress / overtiredness.
mrsshpub said:
Transient global amnesia? That can be triggered by stress / overtiredness.
I'd not heard of that. What jumped out at me was the correlation with migraine. If I had to say the one thing about my health that has ever bothered me it would be headaches, usually sinus related but triggered by a few things. Thing is, these gaps aren't coming back. It's like I can see what must have gone on, or people tell me, but it doesn't make me remember the way that you do when someone is trying to help you recall a particular event or conversation and it suddenly clicks. Unreal said:
mrsshpub said:
Transient global amnesia? That can be triggered by stress / overtiredness.
I'd not heard of that. What jumped out at me was the correlation with migraine. If I had to say the one thing about my health that has ever bothered me it would be headaches, usually sinus related but triggered by a few things. Thing is, these gaps aren't coming back. It's like I can see what must have gone on, or people tell me, but it doesn't make me remember the way that you do when someone is trying to help you recall a particular event or conversation and it suddenly clicks. Prizam said:
A move, as in house?
Carbon monoxide?
No, it's more like I imagine PTSD to be where certain triggers produce a stress response. With me though it's coupled with being unable to remember certain events and time periods, even if prompted. I can remember things before and since without difficultyCarbon monoxide?
So I guess your question is, can a specifically stressful and/or anxious time or event trigger memory loss? In short, yes.
It's the whole fight-or-flight response. With anxiety you get a boost of cortisol, initially, this actually increases memory function but prolonged it decreases memory function.
Research in this area is lacking, but it's a similar mechanism during childbirth. Your body knows it's about to, or is already experiencing something traumatic. So it likes to forget the worst bits.
You have concerns, so it's worth seeing a doctor based on this alone. If for nothing more than peace of mind and a general checkup.
It's the whole fight-or-flight response. With anxiety you get a boost of cortisol, initially, this actually increases memory function but prolonged it decreases memory function.
Research in this area is lacking, but it's a similar mechanism during childbirth. Your body knows it's about to, or is already experiencing something traumatic. So it likes to forget the worst bits.
You have concerns, so it's worth seeing a doctor based on this alone. If for nothing more than peace of mind and a general checkup.
I
I had an episode of TGA a few years ago — it lasted for several hours, during which time I didn't lay down any memories and still have no memory of that time. I only know what I've been told.I didn't know about TGA but have certainly had an episode where I only know what I've been told. I had been off work for some time seriously ill, but was in recovery. I'd spent the morning treating the garden fence on a really hot day. Went to have a shower, last thing I remember.
Next thing was sitting at the patio table eating Sunday lunch. Apparently I'd been asking lots of questions, didn't know I had a job, had been off work ill, just asking asking asking. Family freaking out but made me cook my own Father's day lunch, which I'd done perfectly without problem. Zero recollection of those few hours.
The docs put it down to stress, low oxygen levels, so the brain shut down certain functions to keep vitals going, that's what I was told, but reading that above link, so much fits.
mrsshpub said:
Unreal said:
mrsshpub said:
Transient global amnesia? That can be triggered by stress / overtiredness.
I'd not heard of that. What jumped out at me was the correlation with migraine. If I had to say the one thing about my health that has ever bothered me it would be headaches, usually sinus related but triggered by a few things. Thing is, these gaps aren't coming back. It's like I can see what must have gone on, or people tell me, but it doesn't make me remember the way that you do when someone is trying to help you recall a particular event or conversation and it suddenly clicks. Next thing was sitting at the patio table eating Sunday lunch. Apparently I'd been asking lots of questions, didn't know I had a job, had been off work ill, just asking asking asking. Family freaking out but made me cook my own Father's day lunch, which I'd done perfectly without problem. Zero recollection of those few hours.
The docs put it down to stress, low oxygen levels, so the brain shut down certain functions to keep vitals going, that's what I was told, but reading that above link, so much fits.
FiF said:
I
I had an episode of TGA a few years ago — it lasted for several hours, during which time I didn't lay down any memories and still have no memory of that time. I only know what I've been told.I didn't know about TGA but have certainly had an episode where I only know what I've been told. I had been off work for some time seriously ill, but was in recovery. I'd spent the morning treating the garden fence on a really hot day. Went to have a shower, last thing I remember.
Next thing was sitting at the patio table eating Sunday lunch. Apparently I'd been asking lots of questions, didn't know I had a job, had been off work ill, just asking asking asking. Family freaking out but made me cook my own Father's day lunch, which I'd done perfectly without problem. Zero recollection of those few hours.
The docs put it down to stress, low oxygen levels, so the brain shut down certain functions to keep vitals going, that's what I was told, but reading that above link, so much fits.
Just an update on this. Waiting on some blood tests as a first step but it seems clear to me now that this memory loss is stress related. I have been dealing with some historical stuff that meant I couldn't escape the trauma that went on at the time. A good example of that is going through old emails and being unable to avoid other emails that trigger all the issues I had at the time. As this has been ongoing for a couple of weeks, so it is that my short term memory seems shot together with being depressed and anxious.mrsshpub said:
Unreal said:
mrsshpub said:
Transient global amnesia? That can be triggered by stress / overtiredness.
I'd not heard of that. What jumped out at me was the correlation with migraine. If I had to say the one thing about my health that has ever bothered me it would be headaches, usually sinus related but triggered by a few things. Thing is, these gaps aren't coming back. It's like I can see what must have gone on, or people tell me, but it doesn't make me remember the way that you do when someone is trying to help you recall a particular event or conversation and it suddenly clicks. Next thing was sitting at the patio table eating Sunday lunch. Apparently I'd been asking lots of questions, didn't know I had a job, had been off work ill, just asking asking asking. Family freaking out but made me cook my own Father's day lunch, which I'd done perfectly without problem. Zero recollection of those few hours.
The docs put it down to stress, low oxygen levels, so the brain shut down certain functions to keep vitals going, that's what I was told, but reading that above link, so much fits.
Sitting here typing this I am struggling to remember what I have done all week and in terms of things I do remember, like moving some cars around, when I did them. Bloody Father's Day tomorrow and that brings back more bad memories than good. I am beginning to think I need a major break from everything.
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