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Original poster

Is it normal to forget every day words?

62 replies

Midlifecrisisxamillion · 02/03/2025 21:40

I'm not old (not young either) and I've noticed I forget common every day words. It doesn't happen daily or anything but it's fairly often. An example was today I couldn't remember the word sideboard when I was thinking about maybe getting rid of mine. About an hour later the word pinged into my head.

Is this normal? Should I worry? Is there anything I should do about it? No health conditions that I know about.

OP posts:
Whateverwhateverever · 02/03/2025 21:46

This happens to me regularly and I find myself having to describe the word I am looking for🙄If I mention it to friends iam very reassured that they have same problem ! Early 60s if that helps.

Longhotsummers · 02/03/2025 21:47

How old are you? I’m 60 and this happens to me and my husband who is 64.

Newyorklady · 02/03/2025 21:47

This happens to me occasionally but I am in the menopause.
it only lasts a few seconds then I think of the word.
Im not to worried as I think it’s definitely the menopause.
How old are you ?

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EveryOtherNameTaken · 02/03/2025 21:48

Happens to me too. Today I forgot the word continent. Took me a good 15 seconds to remember it.

I think it's OK and nothing to worry about. Still scary though isn't it forgetting a normal word!

NotDarkGothicMama · 02/03/2025 21:48

I have this and I'm only mid-30's. It's psychological trauma-related for me.

100PercentFaithful · 02/03/2025 21:49

Happens to me. I’m early 50s. It’s the menopause. I also see friends of a similar age with the same problem.

Haveanaiceday · 02/03/2025 21:49

Everyone does this occasionally. If you have always done this quite a lot I think it's common with some ND conditions like ADHD this can get worse at times when ADHD is worse such as if stressed or due to hormones which can affect ADHD symptoms. That's just one condition I know of that has this issue. If it's a totally new thing thats happening a lot, then might be worth talking to your GP.

justasking111 · 02/03/2025 21:49

I'm bad with names now 🙈

itwasthegintalking · 02/03/2025 21:50

Happens fairly frequently to me. 44 and have put it fine to busy life with work, kids and hormones 🤞🏻

Original poster
Midlifecrisisxamillion · 02/03/2025 21:50

I'm early 40s. It's not menopause related.

OP posts:
Devilsmommy · 02/03/2025 21:52

I think everyone gets this to a certain degree. It's only when it happens frequently and and with other symptoms that it's Aphasia I think it's called?

Dillythedallyduck · 02/03/2025 22:03

Yes, this happens to me too...the word vanishes but if I relax and stop trying to get it back then it will pop back up again.

I can blame it on menopause now but actually it has improved massively in recent months due to a less stressful job.

Could it be stress/busyness related in your place OP?

PrivacyScreen · 02/03/2025 22:04

Happens to me very regularly. 60.

RedVelvetIcing · 02/03/2025 22:08

Sometimes I wonder if many of us are living an autopilot so I brain just don’t trigger when we need it to.

mumofoneAlonebutokay · 02/03/2025 22:10

Happens to me all the time

Waiting on an adhd diagnosis, already got my autism one xx

BeSharpBee · 02/03/2025 22:12

I forgot how to spell the word 'of' the other day. 😅

I'm mid 30's but there are many examples of brain farts. It's the whole walk into a room and forget why, situation.

Redglitter · 02/03/2025 22:16

Much to the amusement of my friend the other day I couldn't for the life of me remember the word hailstones. I was trying to tell him that's what we had weather wise. We ruled out snow and sleet. He finally got it when I said 'the wee balls of ice that come down like rain"

Total brain fart but as an occasional thing I'm not concerned

Titsywoo · 02/03/2025 22:16

Not to be rude but in early 40s it could easily be menopause related. Lots of people get their first peri menopause symptoms then even before periods start to change. I certainly did.

Notmydaughteryoubitch · 02/03/2025 22:17

Im mid 40s and I get it, peri for me - HRT is helping but can still get hit with a, can you switch on the...you know, the thing, the one you boil water in, moment
Or use completely the wrong word so say toaster when I mean kettle. Names are definitely the worst, I will always know who they are, what film they've been in, possibly who they're married but buggered if I can remember their name. Its worse for me when I'm tired or under pressure.

Edit - as seen OP update - started for me early 40s and was definitely one of my first peri-menopause symptoms....

Daffodilpup · 02/03/2025 22:17

Hope so. I’m early 40’s and have the same thing sometimes.

Stardust286 · 02/03/2025 22:18

Yes I've noticed it's since I had covid

TobaccoFlower · 02/03/2025 22:19

I'm in my 50s and I forget names sometimes. Not people I know well, but eg. I forgot Colin Firth's name one time. I wouldn't have in my 40s.

CuriousRunner · 02/03/2025 22:20
  1. I might mean fridge but I'll say table 🤷‍♀️ no rhyme or fecking reason 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️
LizardQueeny · 02/03/2025 22:22

This is a peri thing for me. I spent about 5 minutes trying to remember "initiative" earlier. Early 40s certainly could be peri, or just ageing.

ImthatBoleyngirl · 02/03/2025 22:22

All the time, it's very frustrating. I have ADHD so I put it down to that.