It seemed like I was running and trying to play catch-up in every aspect of my life both online and off-line this October. As All Hallow’s Eve was approaching I was so stressed out I realized I was forgetting and increasing number of simple things like where I had placed my keys, and what I needed as I had arrived at the shopping mall without a shopping list.

I almost arrived a week early for a scheduled haircut but my husband bailed me out on that one because he had made note of the correct date. I arrived 1/2 hour late to a meeting because I forgot the time had been changed. Worse still, when I got there I discovered I had brought the wrong file folder with me because I hadn’t labeled it. Labeling all my new folders for all my new files had been on my to-do list for weeks but I kept letting it slide. On October 31st I finished the bookkeeping in the nick of time and rushed off to the All Hallow’s Eve event. That’s where I came undone.

Alzheimer’s fears

They following day I kep thinking about a  friend who is  a veteran of the Vietnam war and has developed  Alzheimer’s.  Why was he coming to mind? Fear crept in.  I was too young to be suffering from Alzheimer’s, wasn’t I?

Minor memory lapses that occur with age are not usually signs of a serious neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer’s disease, but rather the result of normal changes in the structure and function of the brain. This report describes age-related changes and other causes of memory impairment — and how to distinguish between them. — Improving Memory: Understanding age-related memory loss

PTSD Flashbacks and Forgetfulness

When I read that article I recognized what had happened. Most people worry about forgetting things, but some people are tormented by memories of traumatic events they wish they could forget.

Rather than enjoying the  evening  on All Hallow’s I was in  turmoil. Without comprehending what prompted my inner distress I went through all the rituals of the evening forcing smiles and feigning “fright-night fear” because early in the evening I saw something that prompted a Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) flashback.

After experiencing the  PTSD flashback it recurred to haunt me while I slept. I awoke and  recorded the same in my private dream journal.  That’s when I decided to take my PTSD flashback experience into a group I belong to, and when I did I discovered that most members of the group have also experienced PSTD flashbacks. PTSD can be a difficult illness to cope with.  Our therapist provided advice and outlined treatment options.

Memory Improvement

When I arrived home I came up with the idea of searching the internet to see if I could find any techniques for improving my memory, and I found an excellent article with very useful strategies in it.

It’s a classic situation – you meet someone new, and then moments later you’ve forgotten their name! Names, passwords, pin and telephone numbers… the list is endless – with so much to memorize is it really possible to improve how much you can remember. — Memory Improvement Techniques: Avoid frustrating memory loss. Retain and recall more information.

I aim to continue with PTSD treatment and to use to improve my memory retention using Mnemonics, Using Your Whole Mind to Remember, Designing Mnemonics: Imagination, Association and Location.

What’s helping me now is the practice of mindfulness. I recognize that rushing equals busyness and mindfulness gives quality priority over quantity. This being in the now moment practice enables me to become fully immersed in what I’m doing,  and evoke  a creative flow experience, rather than than going full speed ahead to meet a deadline and patting myself on the back for being productive.

Discussion

• Do you have a good memory?
• Do you ever experience PTSD flashback memories of traumatic events?
• If so, have you entered therapy and undergone treatment for them?
• Have you ever been concerned about forgetfulness?
• Are you interested in learning techniques to improve your memory?