Is it normal to forget??
By verolop29
@verolop29 (1096)
United States
October 4, 2012 10:22am CST
I don't think it's normal but for me it is. U see I don't like it because it makes me appear like I'm a lier. And I don't lie. I may not tell the whole truth or I may skip a few details.
Take today, for example. I was on the phone with this man who was explaining something very important and my husband wanted to know what he said but I couldn't tell him exactly what he said to me so therefore I couldn't tell him. It seems like I forgot what he told me as soon as he told me. Does that happen to u? It happens to me a lot and I wish I were different. Like I could remember things. It's very frustrating...
It's always been like this and now that I'm getting older how will it affect me? I'm trying to keep a positive attitude but as the years go by and the older I get I fear that I will reach alztimers quicker than the average person.. And I do think I know what to do about it. I'm gonna see my dr and find out what I can do about it. Just to be on the safe side!
Did u know I keep diary's or..journals. I was reading a book from my days at job corp. and I read something that I don't remember. The more I tried to dig around my brain to try to remember my head started to hurt even more. I already had a small migraine but the more I tried to recall the painful my mind hurt. Does that make sence?? There are a lot of areas in my whole life that I forgotten. I kind of remember both my daughters' birth but not like I used to. When my sisters ask me something about a house we used to live in..I can't seem to remember. And when my husband tells me something about us and things we saw together...I can remember. But it's so weird because with my ex I remember everything. Why can I remember things about that part but not with my current relationship??
I thought about training my brain. Playing the memory game has helped a little but not much.
I haven't decided if its a good or bad thing. My sister said she knows why I can't remember. It's because when my mind thinks its going thru a traumatic event it automatically deletes that event....is that true?
I don't know but I'm going to still keep writing in my journal and one day I will look back and try to remember.
What do u think is wrong with me? Have u forgotten important things too?
3 people like this
12 responses
@ztuberi (395)
• Philippines
5 Oct 12
I also always forget. In my case, its because my brain doesn't relax or focus. Dont be too worried about it, you just have to be focused on things.
But for me, "not telling the whole truth or skipping a few details" is already lying. You're hiding something true/real.
@varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
5 Oct 12
You are very might correct about t his. Its all about focus. Most of the times we dont bother about t hings or events. So later when we try to recall, we just fail to do so. there is nothing unusual in it. Just be relaxed, let me tell you things would be simple if take life in a simple manner. dont bother much about these things.
@41CombedaleRoad (5955)
• Greece
5 Oct 12
A tyical loss of memory for me is when I am introduced to someone for the first time and ask them for their name. I never remember it, even a few minutes later - what I do remember is how friendly they were, what kind of handshake, the woman's make-up or hairdo. That apparently is my real focus and compared to these details her name means nothing at all. Most people are sympathetic and are happy to remind me several times if necessary.
@bembzee (768)
• Philippines
4 Oct 12
Not all are lucky to have a better memory. I just think that's normal. The thing is that, you are not alone in that dilemma. Most older people suffer that stage. It can be alarming to you because you worry too much. Don't pressure yourself, it might help.
@varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
5 Oct 12
I think these days even young people have this problem. its not exactly forgetfulness. You feel you have listened to something, but the fact is something else runs on your mind. So first of all you didnt take not of the thing. Now you cant remember something you havent listened. This is all part of life.
@verolop29 (1096)
• United States
4 Feb 13
Bembzee: I think ur right when u say that I think too much hehe! It's true cuz I do think a lot and its not by choice it's kinda like an automatic thing for me and sometimes I don't like it!
....007 I think u may be onto something here. I think it may have something to do with how my life is.
....007 I think u may be onto something here. I think it may have something to do with how my life is.
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
10 Jan 13
hi,
i think forgetting sometimes is a natural in a person and not a disorder too,because sometimes at home i am like that,and even in the office it will also happen to me like yesterday,i forgot to send our report and that was important because riders will base on what we send.
@STOUTjodee (3573)
• United States
5 Oct 12
I think the majority of us forget things. We have so many important things that we have to remember and sometimes it's hard to remember every thing. I think if we use word association for things that sometimes helps, unless your like me and forget what I associated with what!
Some times having been in a traumatized experience we tend not to remember things. I can't remember a lot of my childhood and I had a therapist recommend I be hypnotized to see why I can't remember, maybe I endured trauma and I'm surpressing my memory. I didn't want to be hypnotized in case there was something that I didn't want to remember.
Some times having been in a traumatized experience we tend not to remember things. I can't remember a lot of my childhood and I had a therapist recommend I be hypnotized to see why I can't remember, maybe I endured trauma and I'm surpressing my memory. I didn't want to be hypnotized in case there was something that I didn't want to remember.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
4 Oct 12
I think it is not that normal but you have to not stress over or try harder to recall because when you have migraine then better let it not remembered. I forget too but if I write something i will definitely remember it. Maybe it is normal for some people. I forget actually all the time when i someone tells me something and my mind is not there. though I have heard it I will forget it fast. Like today, we had the furniture unloading going on and I forgot that hubby told me that there is tea on the gas. After some time I smell something burning and I go to see, there is the kettle dried and smoke coming out. I off it fast.
It is good that you don't forget how i do. Mine is dangerous 
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead. 
Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead. @varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
5 Oct 12
Even at a young age of under thirties, I have the problem of forgetfulness. Its not a big deal at all. at this era where we are exposed to so much of information, its quite natural for people to forget things. I dont think there is anything odd in it.
@verolop29 (1096)
• United States
4 Feb 13
Yiyario thanks friend! I have written things down but I end up loosing that too! I've put it on my phone but sometimes I even forget to turn it back off vibrate mode lol! I am working in it tho..!
@varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
5 Oct 12
Heloo ratholy, I think our friend here is too much concerned. these days the talks about dementia and alzheimers are so much that people are really frightened. Infact there can be such cases, but not all of them are so. If you are so particular you can meet doctor and have a check up.
@varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
5 Oct 12
Let me tell you. i do have this issue. I even forget the names of the people I know and have felt embarrassed many a time. There was a movie once based on alzheimers and the I was s o scared that I was also having the same. But then I found out this is quite normal with all. I would say you relax yourselves and be calm. Once you get frustrated, you get all sorts of health issues.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
5 Oct 12
Many people forget. That is perfectly normal because you really can't remember everything unless you have an elephant memory or photographic memory, which is rare.
I forget many things because I just don't feel like I want to remember them, or because I wasn't paying attention, or because I had other things on my mind. It's human to forget.
@laydee (12798)
• Philippines
5 Oct 12
I have read somewhere about the thing your sister said about the mind deleting things when one is traumatized. Perhaps you need to see your doctor too if your type of forgetfulness is something normal or is it really because of such a traumatic experience.
As for Alzheimer's, you only get it if someone in your bloodline got it, it means not everyone who grows old gets it. But I guess it's different when it's dementia. Anyhow, I have read that you were part of a corporate setting before, it is indeed important to keep your mind active (as the same with that time when you were still with the corporate). I realized this when I took my masters after more than a decade of not studying!
I could remember the day when I decided to go for my Master's Degree. The first assignment given was to read several chapters and make something out of it, I panicked because I couldn't understand one paragraph!!! Took a lot of adjustments and soon I got the hang of it. Indeed the mind gets really rusty! That's why I promised myself I wouldn't stop learning - so I got a teaching part time job.
So there you go, I think it's important that you go to your doctor quickly to see what's really up. And as for your mind games, I think it would be great to read more and perhaps solve some math problems or play chess. Perhaps you could enroll some class that would require you to use your brain more.
Further, I have also read that people who are pre-occupied with a lot of things tend to be forgetful because they can't focus. Perhaps that's one thing too.
Anyhow, good luck and I hope you'll find your answers soon, do share the information given by the doctor. Have a great mylot experience ahead!
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
5 Oct 12
Perhaps your sister is right, that you don't want to remember traumatic events of your life and so you delete them. I think you shouldn't worry a lot about this situation and you should ask a good physician what is happen with this matter. Try to be relaxed and don't think too much in the future. Good luck and have a nice day.
PS.: sometimes it is very good and healthy to forget things that must be forgotten.
@jellsiguenza (147)
• Philippines
5 Oct 12
I am experiencing what you have also. I sometimes forget things that are important. Sometimes even simple things like I will get something in the bedroom and then when Im in the bedroom I keep on thinking what I will get in the room. Maybe, just maybe it has to do with the aging. That is why I have memory gap.
@creativedigital (110)
• United States
5 Oct 12
I find this to be true for me now that I am over 40 years old. I forget more and more things that are everyday things like pin numbers to ATM cards and like my mind just goes blank and I can't find the information. It happens more when im under alot of stress in my life. As for the past distant memories I have always had the problem of forgetting but it is from the trauma from my past in my childhood much like your sister explains. So maybe it is a good idea to talk to your doctor and get a check up just incase there is a problem. Some medical problems can effect memory.
