Awakening,

Your post made me feel better! Harassment is definitely significant and yet you still forgot about it. I know that my forgetfulness is not just about insignificant things.

I also really liked your T's analogy.

Best,
Rachel

I have both short and long term memory loss. I feel mine is associated with past head trauma's. I have found that even under the extreme diress of close quarters combat the training I recieved is so engrained into my being that I don't even think, it just happens.

That being said, I think a person can program themself to create any habit they want. It depends on your commitment to that life change.

Sorry Rachel, it wasn't my intention to make you feel bad. But your question seemed to be about remembering specific dates and lengths of time, not specific events. I would find that to be exceptional trait for anyone, PTSD or not. I hope you didn't take my post to mean that your life hasn't been significant or something like that.

I remember when I was in grade school I used to ponder this a lot. I would think that today is not out of the ordinary, so I won't remember it next year. Then I would think about how who I am today will have been forgotten by the person I will be 10 years from now. Strange, perhaps, but it turned out to be true.

When people ask me what I did a few days ago... if the day was structured or out of the ordinary I'll remember it... otherwise I'll struggle until I look at my calendar and realize that I didn't do anything worth remembering on that day. That's what I meant by that, some days aren't anywhere near the life altering level. A lot of my friends are the same way. I just chatted with one online:

Anyway, I hope that helps make this less scary for you.

Rachel,

My brother just sent me this:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7289245.stm

The article suggests that not remembering things is a sign of good mental health.

Hope that helps...

Hi Rachel,

I have some memory problems too...I'm sure some of them are completely normal but I also have times when I go to do something and before I get there I stop because I have no idea what I want...I have also had trouble with school lately ...I study for exams, I do the readings (although I have trouble focusing) and I am ready for exams most of the time and yet, I sometimes get in there and just forget everything...and then I panic and the results show it. As for the trauma, I don't rememebr all aspects of it. So I gues swhat I'm trying to say is, part of it is natural and part is related to PTSD...maybe because we don't get enough sleep or we're too stressed etc. Not sure if this is helpful at all...But I think I have an idea about how you feel. Take care.

Sorry...what was the question?

I call my frequent blips in memory "brain farts." I'm nearly 49; my husband is 55. The latest -- and most hilarious -- brain fart occurred the other day, when I was raving, yet again, about my damn glasses. I'm forever losing them. "Where are my glasses!?" I howled at my poor hubby, who took one look at me and fell over laughing.

They were on my head.

I'm learning to chuckle at my lapses...to be kind about them. We're all in this together, aren't we...

I've always had a good memory, but when I started taking Risperdol four years ago, I suddenly had memory issues and word-finding problems. I would forget close friends or family member's names. I even forgot what year it was. (I had a major breakdown at work once because I kept searching for something that would tell me what year it was, as I was way too embarassed to ask anyone.) I haven't been on this medication for over a year now, and while the memory issues are better, they haven't gone away. Today, for about two or three minutes, I couldn't remember my good friend's name--and she was standing right in front of me!!! Yikes!

Upstream,

It's ok. I initially took your comments as being dismissive of what I know has been more than just having a bad memory. I felt like you were calling me a liar, which I know is not what you were doing, but that's how I initially interpreted the comments in my head.

It's like someone says one thing but I hear something completely different. It's embarrassing.

Best,
rachel

Rachel,

In Diversity and Inclusion training I learned a concept called "intent ≠ impact"

The idea is that what you intend to communicate to someone is not the impact that it will have on them... and that the impact someone had on you may not have been intended.

My apologies for coming across as dismissive... I suppose I should have asked before rushing to an opinion.

I forgot I posted in this thread