Lives Altered as a Result of Short Term Memory Loss

Our memories affect everything in our lives. If we have short term memory loss, we can't remember what has been said to us each day or what we have done on any given day.

It means we may not be able to remember a special conversation with a loved one, the special things that our children or grandchildren have done, or a romantic dinner. There will be no continuity in our lives if we can't remember from one day to the next.

Short term memory loss is often the result of either a traumatic brain injury or an acquired one. There are things that can assist with memory loss, i.e.: having a calendar to keep track of dental and doctor appointments and any other place it is necessary to be. We can keep 'to do' lists, grocery lists, lists of names and phone numbers and lists of birthdays.

But what can be done to help us remember those special moments that slip away all too quickly? One idea might be a daily diary or journal. This can be referred to periodically so as to be able to enjoy those special moments again and also to help jog the memory into remembering them.

We can also avoid the use of alcohol and drugs which are likely to further debilitate the memory. If someone is in an alcoholic or drug induced fog, it will make remembering even that much more difficult.

Also focusing on what is being said by really listening, repeating what has been said and, in the case of those special times as well as the children or grandchildren's special funny ways, these can be gone over in your mind after the fact. Also, things can be remembered more easily if they are attached to something known that is in the long term memory, i.e.: a memorable association with something that happened before the injury. Writing things down or repetition always makes them easier to remember. Find applicable words to trigger memories. Reading or saying aloud things that you wish to remember helps also. Increased exercise improves the blood circulation which assists memory too. And avoid districtions.

There are also exercises that can be done to strengthen the memory in order to improve the problem of short term memory loss. Some of these are:

- Read a grocery list (or any list) and then try to remember what was on the list. Repeat the exercise until you can remember everything on the list. Then practice with a new list.

- Look at a picture in a book or a magazine for a few minutes then put it aside. Write down as many things about the picture as can be remembered. Repeat with another picture until your memory improves. Also decrease the amount of time you give yourself to retrieve the information from your memory.

Remembering special times, and day-to-day events, is worth the effort it takes to exercise our memories.