Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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My memory is terrible, very exhausted

mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
I'm in a bad state of anxiety right now and have been for about 2 weeks or so. I'm trying to get my 1st therapist appointment set up for next week. But I've been getting worked up and worried because of a couple things. It seems like my memory is terrible. I'm only 29 and I feel like my short term memory isn't great--I have to really think hard to remember things that just happened. And my long term memory has never been great. I feel like I remember 'this and that' from my childhood, but don't really have tons of memories. And my earliest was when I was 4 or 5. When I was growing up I wonder if part of me not remembering a lot was because I just didn't pay attention to certain things, I sort of just lived in the moment, etc. But when people talk about things and talk about their memory, it always seems like mine is terrible and it makes me really worried that something is wrong with my brain. (I know that sounds like a typical anxiety symptom and it may be, but I am really worried)

Also, these past couple of weeks, I've been just exhausted, and I'm not sure why. I have 2 kids--3 an d16 months, and I have been lacking sleep for a long time, but I've always managed it and felt the same, but not overly tired. I'm not sure why I'm so tired now? It's making me function less too. I have been to the doc and had blood work done not too long ago regarding my hormones, and it was fairly normal, but apparently my testosterone and estrogen were slightly high. But I'm scared there's something neurologically wrong with me and I may go back to the doc to see if I need a CT scan, or some head scan.

Does anyone else have experience here? Does it sound like something may be wrong with me?
glee08
glee08
Your symptoms can easily be anxiety related. Here is a copy of similar symptoms from another website

Mind (anxiety symptoms commonly associated with the mind and thinking):

Afraid of everything
Altered state of reality, consciousness, or universe feeling
Deja Vu, a feeling like you've done or experienced something before
Depersonalization
Derealization
Desensitization
Difficulty concentrating, short-term memory loss
Difficulty thinking, speaking, forming thoughts, following conversations
Disorientation
Fear of going crazy
Fear of losing control
Fear of impending doom
Feelings of unreality
Frequent feeling of being overwhelmed, or that there is just too much to handle or do
Having difficulty concentrating
Nightmares, bad dreams
Obsession about sensations or getting better
Repetitive thinking or incessant mind chatter
Short-term learning impairment, have a hard time learning new information
Short-term memory impairment, can't remember what I did a few days, hours, or moments ago
Spaced out feelings, feeling spaced out
"Stuck" thoughts; thoughts, mental images, concepts, songs, or melodies that "stick" in your mind and replay over and over again.
Trapped in your mind feeling
Underlying anxiety, apprehension, or fear
You often feel you are carrying the world on your shoulders
mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Glee, thank you so much for your reply. That list you copied, is pretty much exactly how I've been feeling these past 2 weeks. It's like all of those symptoms at the most extreme level. What site did you find that on? Maybe it's something I should look into to help me cope.

I was thinking nobody would reply to my post b/c I was too anxious/troubled even for this support group. :(

Hugs to you.
Pandylove
Pandylove
I too have always had a bad memory, and i also worry that something is wrong with me.

Im very sorry you have been in a bad state of anxiety i hope you can get some relief soon!
mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Thank-you, Pandy. I'm glad I'm not the only one who suffers from bad memory (not that I want you to suffer too). Thanks for the kind words, it really does give me some relief. :)
Hugs.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Well, I think it all comes down to overthinking and spending too much time inside our heads. At least that is the reason for me. I am always inside my head thinkin' about something so I am not 100% aware of things as I am doing them. Kind of like how it is when you drive down the highway and don't remember driving the last half mile and you think "How did I get here?" So then later if I am trying to remember something I did or something somebody said, it can be a little hazy. It probably would only last a few seconds and I would remember....EXCEPT for the fact that as soon as I realize I am unsure, I start trying too hard to remember. And then, pffft....I just might as well give up.

I was always in my head as a child too. That is why I have very few memories. It makes me kind of sad...but I was in my head all the time, not living in the moment and not doing the things you need to do to create lasting memories. I was always pretending and living in an imaginary world off by myself somewhere. It makes me sad now because there are a lot of memories lost forever...but I was happy in my little world so I guess its all okay. :)
deleted_user
deleted_user
omg thank you so much for posting this and for the comments!! I have had EXACTLY almost to the letter the same problems! In fact I posted something about it just a few days ago. My memory is horrible, and as soon as I start worrying that my memory is horrible, it gets even worse! :( I get obsessed with trying to remember what I did all day, or 10 minutes ago, just to test myself! And I have thought exactly the same thing, I have a neurological problem and I'm going to have to have a cat scan or and MRI, which completely freaks me out even more!! I think anxiety can be so hard on us day in and day out, and it causes so many different symptoms and issues, that once you conquer one, it sneaks in and starts up something else! :( I just want you to know how much I appreciate the courage of everyone on here, and their ability and willingness to post things that they are worried about, so all of us can know we aren't alone!!!
mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Lilygirl, I think you are exactly right on my memory! I never thought of it like that before, but I do think I sort of lived in my mind--basically thinking all the time even when we were doing things. I still do that to a degree now, sometimes just doing stuff not really thinking about what I'm doing, which makes it hard for me to remember things. It just always makes me feel bad when people say how much they remember this or that from when they were little, and I always feel less than, because I don't think I remember as much. Thank-you so much for your post, really really helpful!

And Lovnmthr--I'm so glad this post is helping you too! After reading all of these posts I thanked God for helping me find this site, it really makes me feel like I'm not the only one like me anymore, and that I'm 'normal' in the anxiety world, lol. I'm still trying to deal with my anxiety right now, but at least I know I'm not alone in this battle, and everyone here is so nice and helpful. I hope you get some relief from everyone's posts here, they are wonderful!
deleted_user
deleted_user
There are a couple of really simple things you can do to improve your memory. First, sleep is very important for both reducing anxiety and improving memory. Try to go to sleep at about the same time every night and try to sleep for a consistent period of time preferably between the hours of 10pm and 6am. All of this has an effect on different neurotransmitters in your brain and there are A LOT of studies that have shown a relationship between sleep and memory. Also, you can reduce your caloric intake and change your nutritional patterns. Find out more about it here: http://www.memory-key.com/improving
deleted_user
deleted_user
Oh, and remember the brain is incredibly adaptive and the way your memory is right now is not the way it has to be forever. Don't think that "this is the way you are" your brain will change for the better if you take active small steps to improve your memory. Also, you may want to slow down your pace of life.
Community LeaderMid
Mid
One way to help you express tension is to journal. That puts it on paper outside of your brain.
Make certain you are keeping hydrated.
Take time to relax, play, and smile each day.
Even if you are too wound up to sleep, turn down the lights, quiet the area, and close your eyes to feel your body relax.
Mental fatigue, exhaustion, memory fog are all part of anxiety levels being out of balance. Gentle movement, tapping toes will help you reduce the overwhelming sense of anxiety.
Hope you are feeling better.
deleted_user
deleted_user
The memory loss happens to me sometimes, not sure if it's my Anxiety, me in general, or the meds though. I have very tired this week, it's just been a plain bad week for me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just want to add that I agree with journaling! I always thought it was stupid and I would be stupid for doing it, but it has worked WONDERS for me for SO much. My anxiety levels are improving, I can explore thoughts and feelings to get to the root of things. I always think that there's something physically wrong with me as well, but I think it might be projected fears? That was it for me. When I am honest with myself and really face my feelings through journaling I can go, "OH, thats what's going on with me..." Then learn, then let go. So anyway, maybe it won't work for you, but I highly recommend it!!! I try and journal on this site every single day, anything and everything that comes to mind. :) Good luck to you!!!
mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Refurbish, thanks for the tips! You are right that my sleep isn't the best. It's like ever since my 2 children were born I haven' been able to catch back up on the sleep I've lost, but I've never gotten such bad anxiety from it. But I do think I need to get back on a healthy sleep schedule. Also great ideas on the memory tips. I never really thought about being able to improve my memory/brain that much. I kinda just thought this was how I was going to be for good, thanks for your ideas and I'll give them a try. :)

I also agree that journaling is a great outlet. Even just writing down things to do for the next day and my grocery list make me feel better. Sort of takes things off my mind. I just need to make myself sit down and journal, that's the hard part, lol. Great ideas again though, thank-you!!

TheMoon, I hope your week gets better. Mine's been awful the past couple weeks too. My anxiety/sadness/fears have never ever been this bad. I hope I get to the bottom of it, and I hope you do too. Feel better!
Hugs to everyone.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hey, I just joined and read your post. That is exavtky how I started out but my anxiety has been a part of me for 20 years. I should have asked for help a long long time ago. Hope you feel better soon.
mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Well you're at the right place, Eisenhert. Everyone here is pretty much in the same boat and is full of support and kindness. Hope you find lots of relief here too. Hugs.
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