Hello folks! I am Dessimu and I have a problem with bad memory.

Bad jokes aside, it is a real thing. I have problem with remembering things, not to mention any small details. I may watch a movie and the same evening I can't tell exactly what I've seen. I may actively write in a thread but the next time I open the same thread, I can't remember what I wrote, I just know I did. I can't even remember clearly what I've eaten this morning and if I have eaten anything at all. It is also hard to say if I do not remember or I easily forget. Those are slightly different things in my understanding.

The problem with my memory is present for a long time now. And I am talking years. I can also say it is getting worse, like a grain of sand every day worse. Also, that creates even more problems for me. Lets say, in programming. I have started learning to program Java (mainly). I can get help from many other working programmers. It is all good. When I program and apply theories that I see written at hand, I do good. If I try to repeat the things I've done from my memory, I fail. I can't have a rich discussion about movies I have seen, books I have read. music I have listened, theater shows I have seen or things that I have heard. I forget details. All I can remember is the fact that something was done. And maybe I can remember the core, abstract idea of the thing.

It is as if my mind automatically discards any information given. This constant forgetting of things gives me an ability to enjoy same things over and over and over again. The things beings same song on the loop, same TV show or movie, same game, same story. But it also doesn't give me a nudge to try something new, so with every passing day, my character, personality seems to shrink.

My lifestyle can be described as using computer a lot, doing sports very irregularly and very little, I could eat more and a bigger variety of food, include more fruits and vegetables. No smoking, no drugs, drinking alcohol is very rare and very little, much coffee every day. I used to read books, spend more time outside, create art of sorts. I also can't say for sure that I am healthy physically or mentally, but lets hope I am.

I believe in the thing called mind palace, yet haven't practiced it. I am ok to meditate, yet haven't done that. I am not a fan using medical drugs or vitamins, even when I am sick - I found more natural ways to help myself heal. And the best thing I have done so far about the problem, is to try and improve my critical thinking, so that even if I don't remember things, I could make right decisions based on present details.

So... Do you guys and gals, have any experience with such problem. And maybe you have some good advice on how to deal with the broken memory? At this point anything valuable will be kindly appreciated.

Possible helping ways on the matter as suggested:
- Seeing le docteur or neurologist (I hope no lobotomy shall be needed)
- Adding spices like cumin and turmeric to the ration of food
- Learning French or other language might help
- Taking notes, planning on paper
- In case anyone else reads this, stopping smoking weed
- Playing puzzles, memory games
- Writing a book, recording dreams
- Expecting oneself to be better, to have better memory instead of saying, how bad it is
- Applying techniques. Like mnemonics. Harry Lorrayne's book "The Memory Book"
- Fresh, hot Basil tea
- Regular and healthy sleep
- Eating a walnut
- Again, having a good sleep
- Yoga and meditation is said to do wonders

- Snake oil concoction. Not confirmed, but is told to cure all and every disease!
- Upgrading RAM to either Corsair or Kingston. Condition: one must be a cyborg.
- NZT-48. A special kind of illegal drugs that makes you a senator.

I'm sorry, what was the question?

Few more people and we can open an anonymous club. Sorry, were you asking something?

Seriously, my memory has been turning to shit. I attribute it to age and I'm just learning to deal with it.

There are all sorts of 'systems' that get advertised over here that are supposed to give you super memory but they seem to be on the same order as snake oil salesmen.

Well, I am pretty young, 21. So aging and thus, losing my mind doesn't seem to go along. Some of them advertised methods actually work, but in a way... They are the same. It's like psychologists created a few different methods and salesmen just change some small irrelevant detail. Whuala! "Brand new idea"!



I am thinking of starting to learn speak French. No actual need, but might work to improve memory. Also, I am thinking of taking an idea from Avatar The Last Airbender cartoon. Season 3, episode 4 "Sokka's Master". Sokka found a master to train him in the art of a sword. One of the tasks was to take glimpse of say, view of nature from the top of mountain, and then turn around and paint it from memory as precise as one can.

This is a serious question:
Do you smoke marijuana or hash? And have you started doing so very young? Because this can influence your memory, especially if you started very young with it!

I actually have never tasted marijuana, nor hash. Tried ordinary cigarettes a few times, but didn't like 'em.

I hate to go straight to the worst case scenario... but have you been to see a doctor (assuming that would be possible, not sure what the health care system is like in Lithuania and whether it's expensive)?

Those kind of memory issues when you're so young sounds pretty serious, and if I were you I would be checking there is nothing seriously wrong that may be causing it...

1) Get yourself checked to see your brain functions normally.

Most probably, you are just absent minded (I can relate to that). My advice for that would be:

2) Buy lots of Post-its.

An awful fucking lot.

Well, then we can get this reason out of the way. The bad news is, that if you had been doing so, your problems could have simply been healed by stopping smoking weed.
But now it looks like a more serious thing. I suggest that you`ll see a doctor, because -and you know it- it`s not normal to lose your memory in such a young age. It could be some kind of cancer or BSE. So, please, go to a doctor asap!

What concerns health I get one possible idea that being bitten by at least 25 ticks each year for the last 3 years might have had an impact. But then, when I was applying for military training, I was put through a very thorough medical examination and the only suspicious thing they found - was some abnormality with heart beating. But that might have been caused from drinking much coffee, lack of iron in the blood.

So far I have not seen a doctor about the issue. But I agree, it would be good to do so. Pos-tits. Got it. Being absent minded and very jumpy attention could be the cause, so regular mind training like learning new language might help a lot.
What is BSE?

Here, a link to Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bovine_spongiform_encephalopathy

Well I'd definitely get checked out then. Not sure whether you are aware of it or not as you went straight to the tick bites, but you can get a pretty nasty disease called Lyme Disease from them. It can cause all sorts of issues, including swelling around the brain (memory loss isn't listed as one of the symptoms that I can see, but I wouldn't be surprised)
More info here:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Lyme-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease

As Maxvorstadt wrote, i would see a doctor if i were you, just in case.

And adding cumin and turmeric to your diet wouldn't hurt either - since these spices should help treating weak memory, cognitive abilities, premature aging and more.

https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/seed-and-nut/health-benefits-of-cumin.html
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/turmeric.html

That is new. Given the long term for the thing to mature, it is hard to say, but I highly doubt BSE would be my problem. Still, interesting to know.


I am aware of that. Of Lyme and some other disease that I don't know how to call in English. There was one time a small red circle appeared on my body, expanding a little in a few days and then disappeared. Lyme disease crossed my mind, but then I didn't give much thought.