Forgetting important things more often?

What do you forget, and in what circumstances?

Memory problems mean that it becomes harder to learn new things, recall recent events, keep arrangements in mind or find the right words and information. Think of what you forgot most recently: a name, an arrangement or something you were only half listening to. Then answer these questions:

• When did memory problems first appear?
• Did they come on gradually or suddenly?
• Are the difficulties becoming more pronounced over time?
• What do you forget: recent events or things from long ago?
• Do you also have problems with concentration and attention?
• Have your sleep, mood, anxiety or energy levels changed?

If forgetfulness or confusion appeared suddenly, go straight to the first point of the section “When memory lets you down: what to check first”. If the difficulties are building up gradually and people close to you notice them, see the second point there as well.

Memory and attention: what is worth telling apart?

To remember information, you first need to notice it. That is why some memory complaints are linked to attention, sleep or stress. At the same time, new, worsening or noticeable changes need a medical assessment, not just memory training.

Memory can also be affected by mood, medicines and physical health. If low mood and loss of interest in life persist along with forgetfulness, a doctor may also assess for depression. Forgetfulness on its own does not yet mean that you have this disorder.

When forgetfulness is not about memory

Memory complaints sometimes turn out to be a different difficulty. Compare which is closer to your experience.

• Concentration problems. The information did not stick because your attention was elsewhere. See the page on concentration problems.
• Distractibility. You drop a task when something distracts you and later cannot remember where you stopped. Compare with the description of distractibility.
• Slowed thinking. You can recall things, but it takes longer. The page on slowed thinking looks at what this is like.
• Depressed mood. Forgetfulness appeared together with sadness and loss of interest. See the page on depressed mood.

These changes often occur together, and one of them on its own decides nothing.

Four stories about forgetting

Liudmyla and Fedir are let down by attention: the information simply did not have time to be stored. For Borys and Zinaida, people close to them notice the changes, and that is a reason for a medical assessment, as described in the section “When memory lets you down: what to check first”.

If at least one of these stories resembles yours, write down a few similar moments. If none of them fits, go back to the questions in the section “What do you forget, and in what circumstances?”.

Forgetfulness: the family doctor comes first

For new or persistent physical symptoms, start with a family doctor. Further investigations depend on your symptoms and examination, not a standard checklist. Mood or anxiety difficulties can also be discussed with a psychiatrist.

If you decide to talk to a psychiatrist as well, the initial psychiatric consultation page shows what is discussed at a first meeting. The specialists’ areas of work are collected on the clinic’s doctors page.

Memory aids without constant self-testing

If the difficulties are temporary and there are none of the warning signs from the section “When memory lets you down: what to check first”, memory aids can help:

• Causes first. Look at your sleep, stress, physical activity and how many tasks you have to keep in mind at once.
• External memory. Lists, a calendar, reminders, fixed places for important things and one task at a time. Fedir in our example would be helped by putting his phone down when someone talks to him about plans.
• The underlying state. If forgetfulness is linked to anxiety, depression or poor sleep, improving these often has a positive effect on memory too.

With persistent memory decline, it is important not only to “train the brain” but to find the possible cause of the changes.

When memory lets you down: what to check first

1. If memory loss or confusion appears suddenly, especially together with speech problems, weakness or numbness in the limbs, disorientation, severe headache or other acute neurological symptoms, you need urgent medical help: call 103 or 112 in Ukraine.
2. If a person starts forgetting important events, regularly misses their medicines, gets lost in familiar places, has trouble with usual everyday tasks, or people close to them notice marked changes in memory and behaviour, a medical assessment is especially important.
3. If memory problems persist, gradually get worse or noticeably interfere with work, study and independent daily life, see a doctor.
4. If memory problems come with low mood, anxiety, marked tiredness or sleep problems, it is worth assessing your mental state as well.
5. If you forget things you were half listening to or did in a hurry, start with the aids in the section “Memory aids without constant self-testing”.