Thread: Absentmindedness

Not sure where to post this really, or even why... scary thing happened this evening DS1 found my prescription tablets in the snack cupboard in the kitchen. I took one earlier and wondered where they had gone. The arrows were lined up on the childproof cap too.

Last Friday I decided to go out on the bike so let myself out of the utility room where it lives and locked the door, then stood there thinking why did I come out this way, I've forgotten something... ah yes that would be the bike.

So many things I forget even though I've remembered them earlier and think MUST remember that MUST remember that. I'm going round paranoid that I've forgotten something and dreading remembering something REALLY important, something that'll really let the kids down. I forgot last week it was DS2's school trip and I could have cried thinking of the poor little mite in his school uniform while all his friends were in their jeans and wellies.

And I'm sure it's got something to do with the situation at home and I'm so preoccupied with it, or just numb with trying NOT to be preoccupied with it my brain stops working.

And I don't know how to pull myself out of it. I've got a calendar that I write things on, like the school trip, but i forget to check it every day to see what I've forgotten, I think I need a whiteboard next to the front door.

The tablets this evening, that's really got me scared now.

It does sound like you are really struggling at the moment

It is a sign of depression, feeling disorientated and forgetful. Continue to write stuff down, but I find when I am under a cloud if I write it all out whats happening that week, it helps. I have an A4 sheet with the days listed on the left and what's happening/where I am going/what I need to achieve written next to each day. It helps me remember what I am doing in the writing down of it and helps me focus on what might be a busy week, seems less muddles when it's split into days.

We also have a wipeable magnetic planner on the fridge which I bought for Alfie to see but we all use it now!

I have 2 things to help me remember everything - well, 3 actually. One is my calendar which I'm getting better at checking but I often forget. I then put it all on to the calendar on my phone and set reminders so my phone goes off a certain amount of time beforehand to give me time to prepare or go. This syncs to my PC as well, so I get 2 sets of reminders.

Things like appointments, blood tests, school stuff - basically letters etc - I stick up in order on the corkboard by the front door as an extra reminder.

I am pretty paranoid about my meds not getting near the kids and we have allocated a high up cupboard for them. I make sure I always put it back there and have almost trained myself to not forget. It's taken a while though, but I had to be strict with myself to not just put it down anywhere.

It's hard when there is a lot going on but I find these tricks seem to help. And when I forget something minor - like why the hell did I come into this room? - I try to not worry about it. It's the bigger things that matter.

Mental health problems in general can have a really negative affect on the memory, I was talking to my caseworker about this just yesterday, asking if I could do anything to improve it. I have an appalling, really really bad memory these days. I write stuff down, forget where I've written it, make lists, lose them. I forget to write things down in the first place, unless I do it as soon as it's been arranged etc it will be gone from my mind. I forget conversations I just had, often can't remember what I had for lunch the previous day, entering a room to get something then just standing there like a lemon wondering what it was. You get the idea.

I need to get better at list making and keeping. It helps that I say allowed to Andy or the kids what I need to do as they often end up reminding me. I've got a lot better about putting things down always in the same place.

I think things like the pills could happen to anyone, I'm sure I've done something similar (though I can't remember details). Things like pills I will only take in one place now so I know they won't end up in the wrong room etc. I guess you end up relying on a million little tricks to keep it all going. There have also been many parents doing the school trip thing who haven't got other head stuff going on, so don't beat yourself up about it.

No real advice all in all, just wanted you to know that I understand.

Same here

I'm on the 'forget where I've put my head' thing at the moment as well, and think it is simply down to too many things going on that need sorting out.

Anyone else got the worry head as well, where you worry and worry about everything, then forget what you were worrying about so worry even more?

You're not alone. There are times when I'm just like the mum out of Muriel's wedding.

and its amazing how many things I remember, and how many things I worry about, the moment my exhausted head hits the pillow, desperately tired..... and wide awake, worrying and remembering what I have forgotten and also worrying about what I have forgotten
I swear, I am going to bed for a week and not getting up