Memory...or lack of....I seem to be missing bits

[FrayedKnot]

For some random reason today I was trying to remember in our days pre-DS, whether it was me or DH who got home from work first.

And I just can;t remember anything about it. I can;t remember what I did when I got in from work, or anything.

I seem to find this quite a lot. I can barely remember anything about my wedding, or about other family events. Holidays stick in my mind a bit but only flashes of detail.

My brain feels like swiss cheese.

Is this normal? I'm talking about things that happened 5-6+ years ago.

[AnotherFineMess]

Not sure if it's normal but I'm exactly the same...it's the left-the-brain-in-the-delivery-room syndrome.

One of my closest friends (no children) terrifies me with what she can remember from our school days.

I just figure that I can add my DCs IQ & memory potential to mine, seing as they nicked it.

[FrayedKnot]

I hate that I can;t remember much about important events. My grandmother is in her 90s and seems to have a prolific memory - by her age I dread to think what state I will be in.

[AnotherFineMess]

Are you still sleep-deprived? Or recuperating from recent sleep deprivation? I'm sure that has a massive effect upon memory.

I keep trying to convince myself that I'll be OK again after some sleep.

[LadyOfWaffle]

I have a very bad memory, to the point of embarassment as I have to really think hard to answer simple questions at GPs etc. but I am 99.99% sure it's down to my depression. Dh freaked me out the other day when we went for a walk as I said "wouldn't it be nice to be out here in really heavy rain and have to shelter under the trees" (was a forest) and he told me we did when we met (only 4 years ago) and he had to carry me to the car as I felt ill, but hard as I tried I could only slightly remember being carried, and I mean really slightly. I can't remember my wedding hardly ( 3 years ago) and I feel I am losing alot more memories. On the whole it's goo because I have PTSD aswell and have worked hard to lose those memories, but who knows what I have done to my poor brain in the process! It did get alot worse after kids, so that probably somehow has a bit influence on it. Argh, waffling - sorry!

[FrayedKnot]

That's interesting.. but sad, though, LOW

I had depression 9 years ago and was still recovering (sort of) when I got married. I was on ADs at the time.

It does kind of feel like a blanket over a certain period in my life. And before that seems like so long ago.

I did have bad sleep deprivation when DS was tiny but he's 4.5 now and has slept through the night for the past 3 years, so don;t think I can use that as an excuse!

[Steala]

I'm the same. It is interesting that some of you feel it is in some way connected to depression. That is my theory too. I think that since my overwhelming thought when I am depressed is "how long till I can go back to bed?", I am not living in the moment enough to make strong memories so any memories of that period are hazy or non-existent.

[kbaby]

I am the same. My dad has a excellent memory and I am amazed at how he remembers stuff. I could talk to someone and then 10 minutes later only be able to partially relay the conversation. Before kids I used to be able to remember facts and figures in work really well but now I struggle big time. I get embarrased because I get stuff wrong in work where I think ive remembered something to find out I got it totally wrong.
I used to think that there was something wrong with me but can see I remember the kids stuff really well ie getting sports stuff ready or their party invites so it must be selective memory loss.
My school friend often has to tell me stuff I did or said that I have absolutely no recollection of at all.

I was reading in prima last month that to try and improve your memory you must associate it with a feeing,smell or sense. Apparently your brain will recall these easier than something just said to you.
I wonder if my memory will ever get back to how it was.