How stress affects memory loss. Some internet hunting and gathering.

[Disillusioned]

Stress and Loss of Memory

Have you noticed how easy it is to forget things these days? When the mind is overwhelmed with sensory stimulation (and these days, who’s isn’t?) short term memory is compromised, sometimes greatly! Simply stated, everybody, regardless of their age, seems to be having beaucoup “senior moments.” Experts suggest that technology doesn’t really help much with memory retention. People who use GPS devices often become too reliant on them for second and third trips to the same place, rather than committing the route to memory. Google, the bottomless pit of information, makes retrieval so easy that people often fail to remember what they looked up knowing they can return to look it up again. Spell check is has made everybody lazy spellers. And…anyone who has lost their cell phone call tell you the horrors of not committing phone numbers to memory. As it turns out, memory, particularly short-term memory, is one of the first casualties of stress. When the mind is focus on fight or flight, even at the unconscious level, this is where all one’s attention is really focused. Everything else is deemed useless. So, when you combine a stressed lifestyle with abundant use of technology, it would stand to reason that one’s memory can be greatly compromised. This in turn, can create more stress, and the cycle just keeps turning. Memory, more specifically, memorization, is just one facet of mental well-being: The ability to gather, process, recall and communication information.

The latest research suggests that regular cardiovascular physical exercise is excellent, not only for physical health, but mental well-being as well; including improving memory.

Personal note: I noticed this in myself when dealing with the stress and grief of dealing with a spouse who did not value my feelings regarding P and other adult activities. It really added to the feeling of loss of control and loss of my own self.

[TooSensitive]

I "want" to have short-term memory issues, when it comes to triggers! I don't want to remember those!!

[RMH]

I have that problem now. Horribly. As in, I'll be sitting in class and I won't remember something the Instructor said 15 minutes ago, let alone last week! I actually have been having anxiety attacks in the class I'm currently in, as I have to write and give several speeches. The speeches have to be given by memory though, we're not allowed to have any notes or anything with us... AGH! My mind goes completely blank when I stand up in front of those people.... Whatever comes out of my mouth I couldn't even tell you becuase I can feel myself physically shutting down. It's horrible.

This coming from a person who used to wait tables, and I could take the order from a party of 15, by memory, input the order correctly in the computer, then give each person the correct dish some 15-20 minutes later. Used to bank me big tips.... Now - forget it.... I used to chalk it up to my kids sucking all my brain cells, but I've been wondering lately (before reading this) if it wasn't somehow related to my SO's PA, wondering what he's doing, who he's texting and what about, and in general all the stress that goes along with being the SO of a PA...