I'm losing my mind (1 Viewer)

[TheIronSheik]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

 

[Gianni Verscotchie]

Your brain is full.

 

[NCCommish]

There are exercises you can do to improve recall.

 

[Ned]

I'm 35 and had a knack for remembering tiny details also. Especially numbers.

I've found myself working a lot harder to remember something than I did in the past. It has that 'on the tip of my tongue' feeling to it. Really frustrating.

 

[Clown Car]

My memory is the same way. Can remember small details and get annoyed when others don't. I was never fun at the "telephone game" because I remembered almost every word. I always said if I get Alzheimer's, I will be like everyone else.

I do notice not being able to pull up words. My husband has said the same thing. We are 44.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I'm 35 and had a knack for remembering tiny details also. Especially numbers.

I've found myself working a lot harder to remember something than I did in the past. It has that 'on the tip of my tongue' feeling to it. Really frustrating.

Exactly! That's the most frustrating part. Like I said, I can see it, or I know the first letter. And in the past I could fill in the holes to figure it out. But I seem to have lost that ability. And I just end up stammering and saying, "Hold on. It's... uh.... damn, I just had it."

 

[jamny]

Yes, you're getting older.

Don't stress it. No big deal.

 

[mr roboto]

I couldn't remember Kurt Warner's name. I was trying to remember who lost to the Steelers and I could remember words around Warner (Boldin, Bruce, Rams, Groceries) but had to google his name.

 

[Gary Coal Man]

OP, I'm the same age as you and I'm having the same issues. I used to have a bear trap for a memory. If info went into my mind it stayed there and could be recalled in a split second. Not so much anymore.

I recall listening to a Howard Stern interview with Ken Jennings, the legendary Jeopardy! champion. The interview was years after Jennings dominant Jeopardy! run and Jennings was now in his late thirties. Even Jennings, whose memory must be in the upper .001% said that he had noticed that his power of recall was not nearly what it was when he dominated Jeopardy! around age thirty.

It's natural.

 

[TheIronSheik]

My memory is the same way. Can remember small details and get annoyed when others don't. I was never fun at the "telephone game" because I remembered almost every word. I always said if I get Alzheimer's, I will be like everyone else.

I do notice not being able to pull up words. My husband has said the same thing. We are 44.

Appreciate the response. This is what I'm looking for. I've made the same joke about Alzheimer's. Again, I'm not smarter than everyone else. I just can remember vivid details that most people couldn't. It's good to hear that other people like me seem to be experiencing the same things.

 

[belljr]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

same here. ..my wife was impressed and annoyed with my memory. I used to remember girls numbers at the bar without writing them down. Anyway yeah it sucks getting old. PLUS I have to get reading glasses

 

[TheIronSheik]

OP, I'm the same age as you and I'm having the same issues. I used to have a bear trap for a memory. If info went into my mind it stayed there and could be recalled in a split second. Not so much anymore.

I recall listening to a Howard Stern interview with Ken Jennings, the legendary Jeopardy! champion. The interview was years after Jennings dominant Jeopardy! run and Jennings was now in his late thirties. Even Jennings, whose memory must be in the upper .001% said that he had noticed that his power of recall was not nearly what it was when he dominated Jeopardy! around age thirty.

It's natural.

Thanks. Like I said, I was fairly certain it was, but it was still kind of scary. My whole life I'd had this ability and now it was fading.

 

[mr roboto]

Get off my...uh...wtf is that thing called? Dammit!

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Get a notebook. Problem solved.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Yup. I've noticed the same thing as I've gotten older (48 now). I work in IT as you do and work with some 25 year olds with what appears to be photographic memories. I keep thinking how I used to be that way 20-30 years ago. I'd type a command and remember it forever. Now unless I do something several times I just don't remember it for long. Sucks. My fear is how will this be in another 20 years?

 

[TheIronSheik]

Get a notebook. Problem solved.

I was going to write something here, but I forgot what it was. No joke. I've been staring at this post for about 3 minutes going, "Uhhhhhhhh..... I have no clue why I hit reply."

 

[TheIronSheik]

Yup. I've noticed the same thing as I've gotten older (48 now). I work in IT as you do and work with some 25 year olds with what appears to be photographic memories. I keep thinking how I used to be that way 20-30 years ago. I'd type a command and remember it forever. Now unless I do something several times I just don't remember it for long. Sucks. My fear is how will this be in another 20 years?

Exactly.

 

[jerry jones]

I'm 55 and the same thing started happening to me at age 40/41. I couldn't bring up a word to describe something or recall an NFL players name, stuff like that. But, about my late 40's I suddenly found that to not be an issue anymore, even now I am much better at recalling that stuff than I was during my early 40's...weird but true.

Hopefully it goes like that for you!

 

[Rayderr]

Your brain is full.

Actually, there is some truth to that. There was a story on CBS Sunday Morning a while back where they were talking about how as the mind stores more and more "data" the harder it becomes to retrieve data.

 

[lod01]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

Totally normal. I actually enjoy it sometimes.

 

[jon_mx]

Your brain is full.

Or maybe he just forgot how stupid he used to be.

 

[dozer]

That reminds me of a limerick:

There once was a man who smoked pot......



I forget the rest.

 

[lod01]

Yup. I've noticed the same thing as I've gotten older (48 now). I work in IT as you do and work with some 25 year olds with what appears to be photographic memories. I keep thinking how I used to be that way 20-30 years ago. I'd type a command and remember it forever. Now unless I do something several times I just don't remember it for long. Sucks. My fear is how will this be in another 20 years?

Fortunately there is google to save the day.

 

[lod01]

I used to be able to tell you exactly what players are on the other 13 FFL teams in my league. If I see a player on TV, I can still tell you who the owner is but I sued to be able to rattle off their whole roster. Sometimes I now even forget who my 6th WR is....of course, he never plays anyway.

 

[AAABatteries]

Alcohol Posioning

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I'm 35 and had a knack for remembering tiny details also. Especially numbers.

I've found myself working a lot harder to remember something than I did in the past. It has that 'on the tip of my tongue' feeling to it. Really frustrating.

Same here. My brain feels like tired mush.

 

[TheIronSheik]

Your brain is full.

Actually, there is some truth to that. There was a story on CBS Sunday Morning a while back where they were talking about how as the mind stores more and more "data" the harder it becomes to retrieve data.

Damn. I wish I could back all this crap up to the cloud to free up some space.

 

[jhib]

My memory is the same way. Can remember small details and get annoyed when others don't. I was never fun at the "telephone game" because I remembered almost every word. I always said if I get Alzheimer's, I will be like everyone else.

I do notice not being able to pull up words. My husband has said the same thing. We are 44.

Appreciate the response. This is what I'm looking for. I've made the same joke about Alzheimer's. Again, I'm not smarter than everyone else. I just can remember vivid details that most people couldn't. It's good to hear that other people like me seem to be experiencing the same things.

You really don't have to keep telling us this.

We know, Sheik. We know.

 

[Guest]

I've killed off the brain cells that allowed me to remember why I went into a room.

 

[TheIronSheik]

My memory is the same way. Can remember small details and get annoyed when others don't. I was never fun at the "telephone game" because I remembered almost every word. I always said if I get Alzheimer's, I will be like everyone else.

I do notice not being able to pull up words. My husband has said the same thing. We are 44.

Appreciate the response. This is what I'm looking for. I've made the same joke about Alzheimer's. Again, I'm not smarter than everyone else. I just can remember vivid details that most people couldn't. It's good to hear that other people like me seem to be experiencing the same things.

You really don't have to keep telling us this.

We know, Sheik. We know.

I just wanted to make it perfectly clear I was equating memory with intelligence.

 

[Rayderr]

Your brain is full.

Actually, there is some truth to that. There was a story on CBS Sunday Morning a while back where they were talking about how as the mind stores more and more "data" the harder it becomes to retrieve data.

Damn. I wish I could back all this crap up to the cloud to free up some space.

I've always thought you had your head in the clouds.

 

[Bucky86]

I've never forgotten a set of #######. The moment I do, I'm checking out for good.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

It will probably be in the last place you look.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Me too, man. I feel like Flowers for Algernon sometimes.

Some if it is getting older. Some if it is probably spending too much time online and getting too used to Google & Wikipedia.

I don't know if this has been updated in the past few years (or if I've forgotten), but this was an article positing the google effect - http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/

 

[johnnycakes]

Every year I lose a few more marbles. [/sig]

 

[Fat Nick]

Me too, man. I feel like Flowers for Algernon sometimes.

Some if it is getting older. Some if it is probably spending too much time online and getting too used to Google & Wikipedia.

I don't know if this has been updated in the past few years (or if I've forgotten), but this was an article positing the google effect - http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/

No mention of Yahoo!. I'm safe.

But seriously...I'm almost 36. I can still remember details of things better than a lot of people, especially chronology of events, etc. I've ALWAYS been awful at names. You can tell me your name and I'll literally forget it 30 seconds later. What I have noticed is that if something isn't part of my routine, I'll forget tasks or things the wife asked me to do.

If you want me to take something out before I leave for work, you need to physically block my path out with it or clip my keys to it or I'll forget.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Yup. I've noticed the same thing as I've gotten older (48 now). I work in IT as you do and work with some 25 year olds with what appears to be photographic memories. I keep thinking how I used to be that way 20-30 years ago. I'd type a command and remember it forever. Now unless I do something several times I just don't remember it for long. Sucks. My fear is how will this be in another 20 years?

Fortunately there is google to save the day.

Oh, I use google for syntax and looking up commands all the time. But this is more about scripting and stuff, which is very specific and not really google applicable. But someone will show me a helpful script and I'll think "Oh I'll remember that" and then the next time I need it I remember that someone showed me this cool script but the script itself will not come up in my mind. Frustrating. You don't want to admit a shortcoming like this so you deny it but it rears it's head over and over again. Makes me do this:



which might be part of the problem too.

 

[badmojo1006]

You are not alone Sheik. I remember when it was popular, I had 4-5 people say if they ever got on "Who wants to be a Millionaire", I would be the first one they called.

And I never lost at Trivial Pursuit.

But now, everything is "tip of the tongue" and "I know it" and "ARRRGGGHHHHH"

I need to start doing the mental exercises to get back a little of what I had

 

[TheIronSheik]

Me too, man. I feel like Flowers for Algernon sometimes.

Some if it is getting older. Some if it is probably spending too much time online and getting too used to Google & Wikipedia.

I don't know if this has been updated in the past few years (or if I've forgotten), but this was an article positing the google effect - http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/

No mention of Yahoo!. I'm safe.

But seriously...I'm almost 36. I can still remember details of things better than a lot of people, especially chronology of events, etc. I've ALWAYS been awful at names. You can tell me your name and I'll literally forget it 30 seconds later. What I have noticed is that if something isn't part of my routine, I'll forget tasks or things the wife asked me to do.

If you want me to take something out before I leave for work, you need to physically block my path out with it or clip my keys to it or I'll forget.

Are we related?

 

[CurlyNight]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

Everyone's memory gets affected with age. I wouldn't panic though it's hard to do. You can't prevent dementia or Altzheimers IF it's in the cards but you can keep your mind sharp by doing puzzles and just keep working it. And thank God for the internet. Google is great and keeps you functioning when you have lapses and that's the key, to be able to keep functioning on your own.

You can google the warning signs for Altzheimers and all of us can check something off that list and panic, but the only way to know about this is to see your doc and get imaging done to see if there are any signs of plaque but it won't show up until you are at least in the mild stage. They don't look at this until you are at least 50 as a possibility.

 

[fantasycurse42]

For every new piece of information you take in, try to forget something, this will help!

 

[TheIronSheik]

For every new piece of information you take in, try to forget something, this will help!

And you are?

 

[Henry Ford]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

This is normal. Not just for age, but also for sleep deprivation. I think you mentioned you're an insomniac at times? Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

 

[CurlyNight]

Also, depression really affects memory. If you need to use cheat sheets and such to make it then you should do so. Don't spend so much time as it will make it worse. There's only so much you can do if you are headed for a diagnosis so try not to spend so much time but enjoy what you have and not just what you have upstairs..

 

[fantasycurse42]

For every new piece of information you take in, try to forget something, this will help!

And you are?

Lower Tier Jr Member

 

[TheIronSheik]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

This is normal. Not just for age, but also for sleep deprivation. I think you mentioned you're an insomniac at times? Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

Hmmm... I may have mentioned that, but I'm not really. I don't remember saying that, but who knows anymore.

 

[Fennis]

By no means do I claim to be incredibly smart. But, my whole life I've been able to remember almost anything, in great detail, very vividly. Growing up, I just thought everyone had a memory like that. But when I got older, I realized that my memory was much better than most other people. I would actually get very frustrated when people couldn't remember very minor details that seemed so easy for me to recall. It almost felt like they weren't trying hard enough to remember.

Well, now I'm 40 and I can already notice that I'm losing this ability. I can still remember a lot more than most, but at the same time, I can't remember things like I used to. I had a process that I would go through, where I would cycle images or letters through my head and it could easily fill in clues to what I was thinking.

It's scary. I just wonder if it's going to go quick. Kind of like the saying "The brightest flame burns quickest." Again, not saying I'm bright in the smart sense, but more in the sense that maybe my brain was working harder. I don't know. And I'm sure it sounds silly. But who knows.

I'll be sitting on the couch and my daughter will ask me a question and I'll say, "Well, it's one of those things.... uh.... those... what are they called?" I can see the object in my brain. But I can't find the word. So I'll try and describe the object, but more words start to fail me.

I asked my doctor but he said that's normal for getting old. But I don't think he understood exactly what I was asking. I know a lot of you guys are getting old with me. Just wondering if anyone else notices their mind going?

This is normal. Not just for age, but also for sleep deprivation. I think you mentioned you're an insomniac at times? Maybe I'm mis-remembering.

nutrition too.

I've noticed the same problems

 

[TheIronSheik]

Also, depression really affects memory. If you need to use cheat sheets and such to make it then you should do so. Don't spend so much time as it will make it worse. There's only so much you can do if you are headed for a diagnosis so try not to spend so much time but enjoy what you have and not just what you have upstairs..

Funny that you mention that. It does seem like the harder I try the further it gets from my mind.

 

[CurlyNight]

Also, depression really affects memory. If you need to use cheat sheets and such to make it then you should do so. Don't spend so much time as it will make it worse. There's only so much you can do if you are headed for a diagnosis so try not to spend so much time but enjoy what you have and not just what you have upstairs..

Funny that you mention that. It does seem like the harder I try the further it gets from my mind.

That's why once you "give up" trying to remember something, it hits you what it was some time later.

 

[Fat Nick]

Me too, man. I feel like Flowers for Algernon sometimes.

Some if it is getting older. Some if it is probably spending too much time online and getting too used to Google & Wikipedia.

I don't know if this has been updated in the past few years (or if I've forgotten), but this was an article positing the google effect - http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2008/07/is-google-making-us-stupid/306868/

No mention of Yahoo!. I'm safe.

But seriously...I'm almost 36. I can still remember details of things better than a lot of people, especially chronology of events, etc. I've ALWAYS been awful at names. You can tell me your name and I'll literally forget it 30 seconds later. What I have noticed is that if something isn't part of my routine, I'll forget tasks or things the wife asked me to do.

If you want me to take something out before I leave for work, you need to physically block my path out with it or clip my keys to it or I'll forget.

Are we related?

There are times I ask myself the same question...