There are days when I feel like I'm either developing dementia or am doomed to develop dementia. I think about my mother or see her and suddenly I forget basic stuff. I walk around feeling kind of lost. I've even told my husband to feel free to put in a nursing facility or help me help myself out of this world if this ever happens to me.
I even had a brain test done not too long ago. The results did not show any cognitive impairment associated with developing dementia, and yet there are days when I feel like it's just a matter of time before this disease strikes.
Can any one else relate?
I had never considered it before my cousin was diagnosed. At first, I was so busy caring for her that I didn't have time to think of anything else. But, after I got her situated, I nearly fell apart. I had all kinds of physical problems ranging from dental, skin, digestive, etc.
Then the worrying about memory started. It's not as much memory as it is focus. It is like being on auto pilot. I know to check my voice mail and I do, but then an hour later, I'm not sure if I did.
I try to think of all that I have on my plate, such as caring for my cousin, my parents who are okay for right now, but still need support, running my own business, doing the paperwork, handling my own affairs, managing my health (I have Type I diabetes) and caring for my 5 year-old great niece who is special needs. And I wonder why I'm not perfect at multi-tasking. I saw on the news that multitasking is a myth and if we think we are doing it well, we are mistaken. lol
It was just too busy of a morning plus my sig other was dealing with having my parent's car inspected and he was constantly texting me, thus interrupting my train of thought :P
psychcentral/news/2012/09/17/rat-study-shows-how-stress-disrupts-short-term-memory/44704.html
Your oxygen levels get low and it can wreak havoc on your brain function. It takes months once you start cpap therapy to regain your mental alertness. I'm on month 6 now. I do feel better.
Stress also leads to constant migraine/tension headaches. When you get these headaches, it also constricts your blood vessels in the brain. Constricted blood vessels means less oxygen going into the brain cells.
And because we're stressed out, in anger, we're not really paying attention to things around us. Then we become 'forgetful' because we can't remember what we did with this or that stuff.
Some solutions that you can do - is Deep breathing several times a day. Slowly deep breath in from the nose (watch your tummy go up) and slowly breathe out from your mouth. Another solution - don't be stingy with those painkillers. (I hate taking pills and so only take 1 instead of 2 for my pounding headaches.) Take it - so that it helps alleviate those constricted blood vessels in your brain.
Oh, my answer to this discussion's question: YES! I have twice asked my doctors if maybe I have dementia because I'm soooooo forgetful. They both said that I'm too young to have dementia. It's just Stress. That I need to get out more and exercise. Uhm.. yes, but who's going to cover for me while I 'get and exercise'?