Would it be a blessing or a curse to YOU to lose your memory?
I was in a car accident in 1990, and as a result lost short term memory. For years I have found it difficult to work as an Interior Decorator without an assistant because of this. I can no longer wear all of the hats that I used to wear all at once nor can I handle the work schedules that I once could.
I have found my short term memory loss to be not only detrimental to my career life but a curse to both my professional life and personal life. What once was a mind full of faces and names or measurements that just came to mind without measuring are now puddles of emptyness in my brain.
I hope that this never happens to any of you.
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Comments: 86
Esther, I actually think it would be of overall benefit to me. Think about it - the ability to start over, the ability to relearn, to perhaps reform your life. On top of that, I'd have forgotten about songs like "Billy, Don't Be A Hero!"
Smoochies, pretty lady,
E3
I know, Ed! What a goofy song! For me, it would be an absolute curse!
Hahaha! You wouldn't have to remember that song and a whole kit and caboodle of other dumb songs! ;p
Being able to start over wouldn't be possible hon as with this sort of memory loss you can hardly ever regain what you lost much less learn new stuff without writing everything down.
Smooches back atcha!
Kerrell, as a teacher (right?) it WOULD most certainly be a curse. Gosh! How could one teach after that??
Short term memory can be devastating for anyone. I am sure many of us have times we wish we could forget something, but I don't think anyone would want to have to deal with it. It may be a blessing to somebody else if I lost my memory now, but not to me...
Well along with the short term memory loss that I suffered I lost some long term memory also but from time to time I will get bits and pieces of it back and then will catch myself saying "oh yeah."
I would imagine this sort of thing would be horrible for most anyone. I certainly don't wish it upon my worst enemy. :)
I haven't been in an auto accident, but it feels like the beginning stages of Alzheimer's is starting to set in. It seems like my short term memory is starting to go and I can't remember things like I should, especially the first thing in the day when I wake up...at leat for a few hours. I should not, my father had Alzheimer's for many year before it finally reached the stage that made his body forget how to funaction properly and finally took his life. On top of everything else...just what I wanted to look forward to.
My daughter has been harassing me about my memory going for the last two years. I was a walking phone and address book for years. Now I can still remember numbers from years ago, but I can't remember the new ones.. I hate it!!
I recently read an article about this and it equates it with filling up a hard drive of a computer. It is harder to retain info as we age. The old stuff doesn't have a delete button and sometimes I wish it did. :)
So do I Danielle!!
It sounds so frustrating !!!
It is extremely frustrating!
Let me be brief...
Isn't that all you CAN be?
What?
Grrrr!
John ~ huh?
Cathi ~ ROARRRRRRRRRRRR!
Arrrgh!
~SNORT!~
Funny!
Ha Ha, verrrry funny.
As someone who is about to complete her degree in education this would definitely be a curse. If I couldn't remember my students' names or I couldn't remember a lesson I was supposed to teach ... well I just shudder to think. I wouldn't wish this condition on my worst enemy. And it is definitely not fair that this has happened to a great lady like you.
Oh gosh Holly it would be a terrible curse for you to get hit with this curse of mine.
It is a horrible thing to happen and I don't think that you ever get it back.
You are very sweet and kind. Thanks!
As Rob Appell has suggested, don't ask this of us who are over 70. We all do things like go upstair, then ask ourselves, "Now what was it that I came up here to do?" but as we get older it becomes more frequent and more of a nuisance. I've had many people who did NOT have early Alzheimer's fear that they were developing that condition because of this, and having trouble remembering names.
Certainly you have learned to adjust and utilize "work-arounds" to compensate, Esther.
What's worse is someone like myself who is 33 years old and has these problems LOL. I'm terrified what I might be like if I'm blessed enough to hit the 70+ mark!
We all do it, Melanie! It just becomes more frequent as we get older or when we have too many things competing for the same synapses at the same time. OK, competing for our attention.
i do hope i never do but who knows
I don't think you have anything to worry about Lena unless your head hits something hard if in a car accident.
I think i have lost some of my memories, not due to illness, but somehow i can not remember much from when i was 23-25, friends keep telling me things that we have done together, but i can not remember, or i dont remember any new friends i have made in this time frame... not sure why i can not remember, but i wish i would
That's different from what Esther is discussing. Short term memory loss involves today and perhaps yesterday, not remote memory.
It depends on if it's ALL memory or parts of it. past relationships would b enice to forget parts of it but remeber some of it. gotta remember work though
My brother has had it all his life. His wife Rhonda calls me twice a year or so, Lonney only remembers me when I am talking to him, or someone brings me up.
He does pretty well as an upholsterer. But he does have lots of problems.
I have a lot of trouble trying to find a word I want and I can't remember anyone's name if I don't have frequent contact. I even went to the doctor about it. Nothing wrong he says, just have to many things on my mind. Still scary at times.
A curse...good or bad-my memories are my life. Thats why I think Alzheimers is one of the most terrifying of diseases
I agree with that! My memory is already bad enough. I find the idea of something like Alzheimers to be horrific!
a curse - I would never want to forget my kids
I would love to lose some memories, but I rather deal with them and to have to deal with the troubles of remembering all things.
I am sorry you have to go through this. I wouldn't want to.
There have been a couple of faxcinating SciFi stories written on that subject. And I'll bet there are research folks camped on your doorstep.
What?
Grrrr?
Arrrgh!
Ugh!
I never remember names of people but I do make a lot of to do lists. I keep my mind active but it doesn't matter. :)
Oh I love my memories in fact the older I get the better I they are LOL
the better I they are
Did you forget to edit? lol Ah memories! :)
Arrrgh! The better aye they are matey!
So she`s a lady pirate o' fortune, be she? I ortin' ta be havin' reckoned 't by th' picture. She`s listin' t' starboard!
although i do have a lot of bad memories, ones that tear apart my soul, i would say that i wouldn't want to forget anything. you learn from your lessons in life. although, most of my memories are bad, but i wouldn't wanna lose the good ones. it'd be my luck, i'd lose all memories.
it would be both a blessing and a curse. a curse cause i'd lose the good memories and a blessing cause i'd lose the bad memories. i have to take the good with the bad.
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this problem, Esther. To me, it's strange that I can remember certain things from my past, but at times, I'll go into a room and forget what I went into that room for. George calls this, "Senior Moments". I'm sure you've heard the term. It can be quite frustrating, for sure!
I had a nearly fatal accident as a child (long story), but I've been dealing with short term memory problems all my life.
I understand 100% what you're dealing with. It does get easier though as you learn methods of coping.
Have you tried methods for long term memory? Instead of trying to commit something, like measurements, to your short term, try commiting it to your long term. It doesn't always work for me, but it does occasionally help.
If it could be selective...yes...there are some things I'd LOVE to forget.
You nailed it elizabeth!
What?
Do you remember....
Oh no I don't...
What?
I'll bet you do...
She does.
:)
For me it would be a curse. I have been sober for almost ten years. I know the drinking I did damaged my brain cells, throw in depression and adhd and life is a nightmare. I have learned some ways to cope but to have to relearn everything all over again would be difficult and discouraging.
It would definitely be a curse for me. I don't want to lose any memories...either good or bad, for thodr experiences have made me who I am today.
It would be a disaster for me. I have so many good ones.
Older people need the memories.
My view of life is that life is for making memories. Make all that you can.
Ha, wait until you get to be 80. You start loosing some short-term memory. Hopefully not much, but you will find that you remember clearly what happen 50 years ago, but you are not sure if you turned the water off in the garden this morning.
Grrrrr! I wanted it to be the other way around!
I was dropped on my head as a baby, forget everything, names, what I went in the bathroom for. Alway forgetting where I put things. What did you say your name is?
my short term memory is already beginning to show signs of deterioration. i've asked family members to start putting their pictures in my purse.
Definitely a curse, I was in a car accident in 1987 and had a TBI (traumatic Brain Injury). The accident left me wheelchair bound, with limited use of my dominant hand, trouble speaking and short term memory loss. I lost the ability to do calculations in my head or read a book. I can read a chapter and understand it fine but by the time I get two pages farther on I have totally forgotten the initial paragraph. But the worst thing is I have lost the ability to read people. I can not tell if someone is happy or sad by facial expression or body language. So I tend to withdrawl in to myself. As we learn to compensate it does get better though.
typo 1997 not 1987
I have trouble with short term memory now. If I could erase my childhood, I'd say do it.
I`ve been noticin' yer orange lately. Havin' a wee trouble wi' yer sealegs? You used t' be green!
Haven't yer ever heard of Chameleon Cheshire Kitteh? Sakes!
As large of a family I have, I feel it would be a curse to lose my memory, even short term. Even with all the crap I have seen and lived through. I still would not wish to lose my memory. That crap has made me who I am today.
What?
When? Where? How? Why?
Who?
Whither thou?
Accident in 2001. Lost much short term, gained some back since, realized long term is not as good as it was. I used to know every word just about, in the dictionary, and could remember plots from books I read 30 years back. Most of that is gone,gone,gone
and the Docs say it is from Stress, stress, stress. I would not mind losing memories of 3/4s of blood family, for they are the Stress.................. :)
Esther - I believe it would be a curse and very difficult to cope with in your daily life.
No, I don't want to lose my memory, I don't believe I have a good memory to begin with, if I lost any more I'd be a babbling idiot:)
I think it would be terrible to lose my short-term memory. I have a memory like an elephant. By the way, who are you again and what was the question? (I never said it was a smart elephant!)
By the time I scrolled to the bottom of this page, I forgot what the article was about ! Actually some days are like that ! Seems to be a function of getting older for a lot of people.
Sounds like you have dealt with yours well despite the frustrations !
that sounds so scary, Esther. I don't even know what to say.
i have memory loss what were you talking about anyway oh i rember i forget all the time it dont bother me but it bothers my wife.
Sorry to hear that Esther. I differ though, but is purely hypothetical. Wouldn't want short term memory loss per se, but in general. Yeah, it would be a blessing, most definitely a blessing for me.
I have the added little character aspect of having always been just horrid with names!! I call everyone, male or female, Hun, babe, sweetie, whatever on that order that seems to be suited to them to stay out of trouble!!!