Forgetfulness In Times of Stress

[gracer]

Hello everyone!


Sometimes when I'm overly stressed or there are just so many things in my mind, I tend to become forgetful and lacking concentration on things. When I'm overwhelmed with a lot of work or tasks on my mind, my concentration blurs and I forget some simple things that are not supposed to be forgotten.


Do you also have the tendency to forget things when you're stressed?

 

[Sue]

Yes I do. Especially when I get stressed at work. I will do something and then completely forget that it was done. I will talk to customers and not remember a bit of the conversation. I hate when I get like that but I know then that I am over stressed and that I have to do something to calm myself down. It gets very frustrating and only adds to the stress factor when this happens. At home I have forgotten to turn off burners after using the stove which can be a bad thing. I have walked out of the house without locking to the door or have locked my keys inside the house. I always know that my stress level is very high when I start forgetting things because I am usually always very aware of everything and have a good memory.

 

[Roscas]

Actually, anxiety or stress can cause memory loss. When you are anxious your brain undergoes chemistry and hormonal changes. Cortisol, the stress hormone, is release in large amounts when you stress or are anxious, and this hormone affects the brain that may cause memory loss and other problems of recollection.


When anxious, the mind is more active and the brain is not focused because it is dealing with new things you are trying to recall. This prevents the memory to be fully-created. You tend to have distracting thinking, making it harder for you to recall your memories. It is like a battle between your normal memories for space in your mind and these lose.


When stressed or anxious, for some, getting enough and quality sleep is evasive. Sleep is important for the brain to recharge and reorganize itself. One needs to exert effort to combat the effects of anxiety and stress on memory loss. Exercise and keeping a journal will help (how frequent you use it would depend on how comfortable you can be in keeping one) . Try to learn mnemonics too for exercising the brain with mental strategies. Joining fora such as this will definitely help as well. It keeps your mind thinking and focused on what you are thinking as you write it down, such as this.

 

[LovelyLiz]

I don't have the medical knowledge that Roscas has, but I do find that this happens to me as well. I've found that, if I'm giving a presentation or talking to a superior and I'm worried about how my ideas come across, I can forget key details, or find it more difficult to recall what I'm trying to say, for example.


I'd recommend making notes - I tend to write checklists of the things I need to get through when I feel stressed and overwhelmed for example.

 

[DDNatureLover]

I have noticed the same thing. I have a lot of little things I need to remember, such as which bills get paid in which order, from which accounts, and due to precarious finances, one mistake can topple the whole structure, which causes stress. When I had more funds available, a slight mistake wouldn't have caused a problem, but late fees can mean that I'm unable to pay something else, which causes even more problems and anxiety. I try to make To Do lists which help me stay on top of things, and I've just begun posting a wall calendar again, since I sit here at the desk a lot. I'll be marking payments due on it, because then I can see a month at a glance. Having it on my phone doesn't seem to help. I need the physical calendar in front of me, because my brain tends to shut down with regard to financial matters these days, since thinking about them induces even more stress.

 

[kgord]

I do think this is true. I have been under stress for quite a while and i have noticed that my stress has gotten worse, I think it is just one of the things that I have noticed. I tis just one of the options that you need to take heed of. It is one of the ways that you know you may be under too much stress. However, learning the right ways to deal with your stress is one of the ways you can get relief from some of the memory problems that may be plaguing you.

 

[SirJoe]

I think it's a safety mechanism that your body haves. The only place that people function well under extreme stress is in the moves. I have heard a lot of people say that they function better under stress then not but it really comes down to the level of stress. A certain amount of urgency can get things done but stress normally has the opposite effect.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

I am a really distracted person in general, and I don't really need to be stressed in order to be that forgetful on a regular basis, lol. But still, when I am feeling stressed that forgetfulness gets worst when I am stressed, and this happens quite often when I am in the finals. One day I forgot to change the books that I needed that day on my backpack, and it wasn't such a nice experience, lol. But I think that it's an evolutive thing, maybe it's a form of relieving stress by stopworrying too much about "little" things.

 

[kelden]

I think this is pretty normal to happen even if you don't suffer from anxiety disorder. It's a good thing that there are techniques to relieve from stress and improve focus , like deep breath, yoga and meditation. Also, It's a poor idea to take responsibility on a lot of commitment in a go, space yourself and arrange your time management. And you'll notice memory loss gonna be a thing of the past.

 

[fuzyon]

I missed a job interview once, funnily enough. I was anxious because I was still a newcomer in the field and getting job interviews was pretty hard for me at times. I was really stressing out and constantly going over algorithm problems to be prepared that I actually forgot to go to the interview. They called me a couple of hours after we were supposed to meet up and they told me they're sorry I couldn't make it, that's when it dawned on me that I forgot to show up.

 

[taco]

Oh god lets not talk about the dread of missing a bill payment. I will seriously wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking I forgot to pay my Visa bill for the month. I think it has to due with growing up quite poor and having to deal with the electricity or water being shut off or no A/C during summer.

 

[thecorinthian]

Oh yeah lot's of times that's why I think it's important to take a breather sometimes. When you're feeling stressed take a little break away from your keyboard and flex your muscles, make tea, talk to someone for a while and basically just decompress. When I get stressed I make a list of the things I have to do then leave my desk for a while to take a break and get back to it now with a more organized mind. Make lists my friend and you'll never forget again.

 

[gracer]

I'm really amazed at how many of us do forget things during stressful times. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences guys! I have noticed that some of you also try to make a list of things you need to do in order for you not to forget. I also do that most of the time because when I know that I'm going to be overwhelmed by a lot of stress, I will surely forget even the important things that need to be done.

 

[DDNatureLover]

Having a routine helps me with my forgetfulness. Several years back, I started hanging hooks by the front and side doors, so I could hang what I needed on them. I would put a set of car/house keys on each hook, that way I didn't have to constantly search for my keys. Initially, I put one by the front door, but then I started using the side door most of the time, and would have to dash back over by the front door for the key. It just seemed easier to hang a set by each door, that way if there was a fire or other emergency, I could get out regardless of which exit I used.


We've had some issues of people trying to break into a few homes in the area, so I've changed that habit, and I know keep the keys in my purse (although I do keep an emergency set down in the kitchen cabinet, for emergencies), which I keep up here. A positive about that is that if someone does try to break in, I can set off the car alarm from up here, which will hopefully let the neighbors know to call the police.

 

[LovelyLiz]

Routines are really good ideas as well - I keep my keys in a particular pocket, pen in another pocket, so I know where they should be and can tell straight away if they're not there.

 

[WorkAtHomeGal]

It does happen to me when I get to stressed about things I can easily forget things. I can forget little and big things it is quite annoying I must say but not a constant problem. This is why my desk has a pile of To Do list and notes to keep track but those are overwhelming too. So I am trying to use a planner more often now to help.

 

[LovelyLiz]

Really, you just need to find out what works for you, and get into a routine of doing that. Hopefully, over time you'll be able to build up a positive routine of remembering what you need to remember.


Maybe you could work out some kind of pneumonic for helping you to remember the thing you need to remember as well, if that's practical?

 

[Alex]

Most people are prone to forgetfulness when they are stressed, but it's something we learn to deal with. Some people are more anxious about things though, which is why lists do help. I do have a good memory, but I do forget things when I get distracted. Often I am doing something like emptying the bins and my dad will suddenly decide he needs me to find the keys to somewhere, and I have to stop what I am doing. I have told him in future, when I am doing something let me finish and then I will do what he needs.


When people interrupt unnecessarily that's when I forget, and in order to stop my dad trying to do things (he has been ill) I have to accommodate him at my own expense. It's annoying as he is impatient and if you don't do things when he wants, he'll stand there and watch you until you do. This actually stresses me out too and I have told him not to do it. Watching me doesn't make things happen faster, and I have to do things in my own time.

 

[sidney]

I'm actually forgetful even when I'm not under stress, so I wouldn't really know if I tend to become more forgetful when I'm under stress, lol. I do think that we usually tend to forget things easily when under stress, because our minds are preoccupied with certain things, so things of lesser importance tend to be neglected or forgotten.

 

[SFOMH88]

I can definitely sympathize with OP. Also, when I'm anxious (usually out in public) I notice that my math skills go straight down the toilet! I have trouble performing even the most basic arithmetic that I would otherwise find incredibly easy. It's difficult to deal with, because arithmetic skills is not something I can jot down for later reference. Does anyone else experience this as well? It's both embarrassing and frustrating at the same time.