I can't remember anything

[Whatsthestitch]

Posting for traffic. For a while now, a couple of months I'd say, it feels like my brain is putting up an invisible wall on myself. When I try to remember what happened yesterday, last week, it's there vaguely but I get shut out. Everything feels blurry. I have hardly any recollection of anything from last week. It's like it didn't happen. I'm only 25. I don't know if it's worth mentioning that I'm struggling with really bad anxiety right now and feel constantly dissociated. It's crazy. I usually have this in episodes but this has been the most ongoing. I just don't even feel here or present enough to remember anything if that makes sense.

I need to get a job soon (sahm) I don't know how I'm going to function in a job and I don't know how to explain this to dp with him being able to understand fully. Help!

Have you got a healthcare professional you could talk to? As for work start with something manageable in terms of hours and type of job to ease yourself in gradually.

I'd suspect anxiety.

Would it help to write a diary at the end of each day. Just a few lines, then when you're thinking look back at it and see if that jogs your memory?

@BCBird No dc is 2. I feel like I will be a liability working as I can't remember if I even put things down/what I done with them. It's scary

Your DP doesn't need to understand fully. He just needs to listen and to believe you. The technical details are for your doctor to work out.

@MargaretThursday I've had brain fog from birth/anxiety. This feels insane. Like I'm floating and watching through someone else's eyes. At night I have serve pain attacks because I wake up but don't feel like I'm in my body and everything feels unreal. I get up and walk around and feel like I'm not controlling my body.

You need to speak to your DP and your doctor. Memory can be affected by physical things ranging from super simple (vitamin deficiency) to serious (much less likely), and by mental health issues/conditions.

Have you had covid? The brain fog can last a very long time. Or it can be a stress reaction.

No not had covid recently. I've had covid and it wasn't this bad. This is as bad as my dissociation has ever been and my memory

Have you a carbon monoxide alarm at home?

@magicstar1 yes. Also live with 3 other people who aren't experiencing this

Only a doctor can help you, you can call for an urgent appointment if worried.

Is it migraine? Which can look like anxiety?

You need some blood tests. Could be vitamin deficiency, hormonal, thyroid related, long covid. Any number of physical causes as well as the anxiety - are you taking any medication for the anxiety? I started Citalopram last year and it made a huge difference. Please do get a GP appt asap and make a list of what you need to say and ask so that you don’t forget. If possible get your DP to go with you so that you don’t get fobbed off.

This is how I get when my anxiety is at its absolute peak. It’s horrible. I would have a chat with your GP.

Have a look at a book called "The Body Keeps The Score", OP. It sounds hippy woo, but isn't at all - it's by a scientist who explains (among other things) that stress and anxiety cause, guess what, memory problems.

Sounds like you should see your GP, but the book will talk you through a lot more than the doctor is able to in any number of appointments.

I also think it’s the anxiety causing it OP - please speak to a GP. You can definitely come back from this. ♥️

Hey OP- are you taking any medication? Certain anti depressants cause memory loss and it defo something i would go the GP for. My memory is terrible since having my daughter but I do have other diagnosis relating to anxiety. Good days and bad days for recollection and sometimes my words get muddled. But severe memory loss and recollection- I’d book in with GP and go from there

I think you really need to discuss this with your GP as soon as possible. We’re not medical experts on here and, I mean this kindly, you need advice from a professional who can support you, listen to you and diagnose you properly

you've described feeling like you are seeing the world through someone else's eyes and that you can't control your body.

Look up Depersonalisation and Derealisation. they are under recognised but fairly common symptoms which can be linked to anxiety. Try to get a referral to a psychiatrist. write down everything you can about any episodes or odd experiences (email it to yourself) so you can show the doctor.

the charity UNREAL is working to raise awareness and do research. So far, it seems that being with other people and physical exercise often reduce feelings of depersonalisation (so gym and dance classes are good) but spending a lot of time online can make them worse.

Yeah, definitely speak to a doctor.

Hi @Whatsthestitch make an appt with the doctor you could be lacking in a vitamin, they can do a blood test.
Hope you feel better soon x

Have you noticed any other changes? Weight gain, disrupted sleep, abnormal periods, changes in eyesight...? All of those in conjunction with short-term memory loss can be symptoms of a pituitary condition.