I have trouble remembering a lot of things from my past. Like everything in my mind is a deep black pool. Everything gets lost in there until something triggers them to float back to the surface. My psychologist mentioned dementia. I don't know why it is happening to me. Please someone, give me advice. I'm lost, confused, and I wish I could just drown in that deep black pool with everything else.
I had major depression many years ago. And when I saw the movie, "Ordinary People" and the main character describes depression as a big deep hole that keeps getting deeper and deeper, until you *are* the hole" I thought that was the best description in the world. In the common types of dementia, you don't lose your moderate to distant past memories first. Captain is right about the brain fog too. The other thing besides depression to think about is any medications that were started in the past few months. And the cargeiving journey - it can certainly seem that your entire past and self is swallowed up in the awful realities of slowly losing a loved one, that there was never a better time or any time at all besides the ever-present and demanding here and now.
My mom is going on 94 and is at that point where she's remembering her early life and talks about it a lot. I laugh and tell my friends I wonder what will come back to me (if anything) when I'm older, because I sure don't remember it now!
Dementia, as other says, usually involves short term memory. Stress, perhaps through the action of the hormone cortisol, can also interfere with short term memory. I know I can't remember anything when I feel stressed. Dementia is a physical problem that causes cognitive and, therefore, behavioral problems. What you describe doesn't sound like dementia to me.
If you think there is something physically wrong, talk to your primary care physician (MD). Psychologists are not licensed to handle the physical side of things.
Have you always had problems remembering the past? Do you remember the recent past? Long past? Can you give us examples?
With that said, don't necessarily believe your psychologist's opinion. Go see your primary care doctor. Also, your fog may be related to nutrition, reaction to any medication you may be taking, metabolic/endocrine related, UTI, emotional duress and other.
Bless you.
only one potential problem with the R @ R concept. depression usually trashes your sleeping pattern so badly that you just lie and watch the sun come up anyway. i think one on one therapy is more helpful. not giving the phsycs any credit, theyre just paid to listen and pretend to give a damn. a captive audience essentially..
Is this something that has come on suddenly? My suggestion to you is to see your primary doctor. Try not to panic. It could be a number of things-stress, lack of sleep,.... Just go to your doctor. And if thwt doctor is vague or not helpful go to another!! And talk to a friend and/or family member. Maybe have someone go with you to the appointment. You need a support system to help you through this. Please let us know how you are doing. Blessings to you!! And hugs!!!!!!!