Most people forget things from time to time. Whether it’s misplacing your keys or not been unable to recall the name of a person you just met or losing your train of thought. There are, however, degrees of forgetfulness.
Recently, a friend of mine sent me a picture of him holding a water bottle via WhatsApp and asked me if I remembered the water bottle. I zoomed into the picture to scrutinize the bottle and came up blank. Here’s a transcript of the chat:
T.O. – Do you remember this water bottle?
Me – Honestly, it doesn’t look familiar. Is it a child’s water bottle?
T.O. – Aah!!!
T.O. – You really can’t remember?
Me – I really can’t. Please remind me.
T.O. – Wow. You can’t remember giving that to me?
Me – No. I blame it on old age.
T.O. – It was your going away present when I was going to Ireland.
Me – Alright
T.O. – Old age for sure
Me – As in!
I truly do not recall getting him the water bottle. This recent memory lapse incident was awkward, exasperating, and worrisome as I thought I had overcome my memory gaps.
What is Memory Loss?
According to MedlinePlus, Memory loss (amnesia) is unusual forgetfulness. You may not be able to remember new events, recall one or more memories of the past, or both. The memory loss may be for a short time and then resolve (transient). Or, it may not go away, and, depending on the cause, it can get worse over time.
The above memory slip is not my first incident of memory loss, it’s just the most recent. At some point, I was quite bothered about my memory lapses, but my Mom comforted me by saying that my brain stores and recollects information I consider significant or worth remembering. I have found this to be true. Besides, I don’t entirely consider my memory lapses to be a disadvantage as sometimes I don’t recall sad, hurtful, or annoying incidents.
What causes memory loss?
Memory loss can just be a natural part of ageing. Harvard Health Publishing identifies seven common causes of forgetfulness as lack of sleep (insomnia), medications, underactive thyroid, drinking too much alcohol, stress and anxiety, and depression. It could however be a sign of an underlying disease, in which case, a doctor must evaluate this condition.
3 Personal Tips for coping with memory loss/forgetfulness
So here’s how I have coped with forgetfulness:
- Manage stress levels – I do this by engaging in hobbies I enjoy such as cycling and listening to music and podcasts.
- Jot it down – I use my phone’s and a laptop’s Notes app to create to-do lists for chores and jot down my ideas as they come to me. I also set alarms or reminders on my phone’s calendar app to remember important events.
- Get enough sleep – I try to sleep at least seven hours a day as I tend to remember more when my brain is not sleep-deprived.
If, however, your memory loss is progressing or becoming severe, please make an appointment with your doctor. You can ask someone you trust to accompany you.
In Summary – Don’t stress out; live your best life. And if I tell you that I can’t remember an incident, I’m not joking!
Feedback
I know I am not the only one who experiences memory slips occasionally. Please feel free to share your experience with me along with tips that have worked for you in the comments section below. Do include your most embarrassing moments of forgetfulness as well.
This is something I often experience as well. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Bukola 😊
Its comforting to know that I am not alone.
Thank you for your response.
There are times when one is forgetful, mainly because not all information must be remembered. But for important life events, im sure pictures would jolt your memory. So try to take pictures of things/ events/ people you wouldn’t want to forget in a very long while.
Dear Ebby, Very wise counsel. I totally agree with you. Thanks for commenting.
Happens to me too! Sometimes I think my mind just blocks out information it doesn’t want me to retain…
Hello Ayetu,
Thank you for sharing. I agree with you that the mind blocks out certain information.