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My older sister told me that she can't remember things from our childhood....because there are too many things she has to remember for her job. That sounded like bullshit, but she couldn't remember what year she graduated from High School, or college....or even what year she got married or divorced. WTF does that mean?
She had an app that alerted her to my birthday, but no app to fill in memory blanks. It was an awkward visit.
She should get checked out. Lack of memory could be a lot of things including early onset of dementia. It could also be something serious but fully treatable (I knew someone who had Hydrocephalus and they got significantly better after surgery).Quote:
Originally Posted by GGT
Doesn't it depend a lot on what you can't remember?
Short term vs long term memory seems to be a diagnostic tool for dementia. I wonder what it means when a professional person (like my sister) can recall lab protocol ten years back, but can't recall her own life in the same time frame?
There's a LOT I can't remember. And when I compare notes with siblings or old friends, there are things I DO remember that they don't, and vice-versa. The most striking demonstration of memory gaps is when I read my older journal entries - I often have no memory of writing them at all, like they could have been written by anybody. I think this is part of the human condition - we live much more in the moment than most of us recognize (ironic for the mindfulness movement, heh). It's really only the very happy or stressful (terror, pain, uncertainty) events that we are sure to remember. The rest isn't necessary.
I don't remember anything. As a rule. Just, random fleeting things. And I know facts which have happened, I've broken up with her, I've graduated there, things. But I do not remember. Not a thing. I never have.
But don't most of those "non" memories happen within a known time frame? If you know you're born in X year, can't most of your memories be framed in that context?
I was born in a generation that valued rote memory....we practiced our multiplication tables, yet gave prizes to students who could do math without a slide rule or calculator. Sorry, but I don't believe people who say they don't remember anything, especially when they're math wizards, like my sister (or Nessus).
I think what they're really saying is that they don't view "memory" like most people do, and that's why it's hard to agree on what memory means, or how it's important. Especially in a family context, when memories become part of family rituals.
I suspect this kind of "memory" is what perpetuates the holiday decorations, tiny white lights, and Secret Santa gifts during Christmas holidays, especially in long-term care facilities. Trying to capture memories is now a therapeutic tool.....playing the 'right' kind of holiday music competes with prescribed meds. Brave New World, huh
I thought we were talking about memory of life events. I think memory of math rules is an entirely different thing.Quote:
Originally Posted by GGT
But the year important events happened (like graduating HS) can be figured from DOB with simple addition. I wasn't asking her to recall anything but the year, and since math isn't a problem for her, I wondered if something else was going on with her memory that I should be concerned about....
I got a picture holiday greeting card from my other sister. She posed our mother's Christmas stocking in the photo shot, even tho she's been dead for 15 years now. Maybe my family is just weird?