Published on 12, July, 2020
Does anybody else struggle with their short term memory?
This is becoming a serious problem for me. If I watch or read something I literally cannot remember what happened five minutes before. I usually remember the main characters names but that's about it. This is such a weird thing for me because as a kid I had a great memory, especially long term, but also short term memory too. The books I read as a kid I remember easily like I read them yesterday but as an adult it's becoming a real problem.
I don't know if this is an autistic thing or if it's maybe related to anxiety. I say anxiety because this is something that affects me in many different ways and I've considered it might be affecting my memory now.
My MH team would likely say it's mental health related which is why I haven't told them yet :')
It definitely isn't an age thing because I've only just turned 27. But it's becoming an annoying problem to say the least!
My memory is really good in some ways and terrible in others.
I can remember every film I've ever seen and what happens from start to finish, what's said, and I can picture it in a photographic way. I've always been able to do this.
When travelling I can remember the directions to said place, no need to consult a map, I can picture the route and am able to get to places I've been before with no problems.
However when it comes to remembering to drink I am terrible. My memory is awful from that regard and it's led to serious dehydration and hospitalisation several times.
Emmy said:When travelling I can remember the directions to said place, no need to consult a map, I can picture the route and am able to get to places I've been before with no problems.
Wow I wish I could do this.
I have a very good sense of direction, but I'm bad at navigating via roads. It's by far the weakest part of my driving abilities. Even with a satnav, I struggle with large junctions and roundabouts that I haven't been on before. I don't handle new situations well to begin with, so it's even worse when travelling at speed.
I always know which direction I'm facing and where I've come from and where I want to go, which works well for hiking, but when driving it doesn't translate into navigating ability. I can't tell from looking out of the windscreen where a particular road will ultimately go - whether it will curve around in a circle onto the motorway or go off into the town, and when making split second decisions I often get it wrong.