It never really hit me how bad my memory is until a couple years ago, when I had dinner with my dad and some of his friends. My dad started reminiscing for 20 minutes about a trip we took ~5 years prior. I was in a few pictures from the trip, so I know I was there, but I don't remember it. It was deeply unsettling listening to all of the events that happened with zero memory of them. I have ADHD and anxiety, which my counselor said both contribute to memory loss like that. I've made my peace with it now, so I'm ok. I can rewatch movies and shows fairly often at least. :)
this post was submitted on 29 Jun 2025
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I used to have a spectacular memory. The very first time I got Covid, though, it all went to shit. Maybe it's also just because I'm getting older, but I definitely feel like that original brain fog never went away.
Weirdly, it's not ALL of my memory that's shot, it's only proper nouns. Names of people, places, or things. I will forget the names of people who I've been working with for 3 years, the new brand of coffee I really liked when I'm at the store trying to buy more, or the name of the store I need to go to after work even if it's something obvious like Harbor Freight (Like I know I need to go buy a torque wrench, but where had I researched and decided was the right place to buy one?).
Numbers, facts, figures, physical properties... those all stick like glue. I can look at a machine at work, take it apart, then come back the next day and put it back together right without taking any pictures or notes.
I've started using a notes app on my phone and that's improved things a bit, but it's really irritating when I am sitting trying to remember something and it just will not come to me. I'd never experienced that in my life before, it's a little scary.
I've talked to a few other people before who all have similar selective amnesia like this after Covid, but with various different things that are easily forgotten. I find that really interesting and feel like it could hint at how different brains store information in different ways/places. People's names were always what I'd call the "most difficult" for me to remember, but I never had THIS much trouble with it, and the places and things were never a problem before.
That is scary mate, and you're thrown in the deep end with an issue you've not experienced. Have you posted in !autism@lemmy.world a lot of members there have memory issues and can give you ideas. Might be some other apps and shit
It's been a few years now, and it's not quite as scary anymore, more of a fact of life, my new normal. I've gotten some good mental tricks down for remembering people's names, and I've had a lot of good practice lately with all the new people I've been meeting. The first time I meet people, I basically just tell them straight up that I WILL forget their name, and I'm sorry, and the next time we meet I'll re-introduce myself, and it will take 3 or 4 tries to get it... And the re-introduction part of it really seems to help. I've been meeting a lot of people from Discord lately, and adding a username on top gives some other "hook" to catch, especially if it's a particularly funny username, which seems to help to add something more memorable to recall.
The places and things part has been relatively solved by me just keeping daily itineraries and lists when I have stuff to do, and long-term lists of things to remember. I'd never had to do that, so once I got over the initial "Well I Shouldn't HAVE to!", it just became part of the routine and works fine.
Nothing seems to be getting significantly worse, so I'm not spiraling down into some hellhole of non-recollection... I kind of see it as similar to losing a finger or something. Relatively minor, changes how you interact with the world slightly, but nothing earth-shattering.
Sounds like you've handled it amazingly! Well done
I have memories from when I was 2yo. I can recall the plots and quotes from almost any movie or show I’ve ever seen. Like I watched criminal minds only once almost a decade ago but if I catch any snippet of an episode I can still recall the entire plot and likely a quote or two.
I have a great memory… unless it is something important
I cannot remember when I have appointments scheduled this week. Nor can I remember peoples names or things I told myself to remember five seconds ago. If I set something down it basically no longer exists and I will get up to look for it even if I set it right next to me.
Meds help (ADHD) but still it’s fucking annoying
depends, I already forgot the question
Depends on what it is. If it's where I put something, something I need to get done, or what I went to the grocery store for, my memory is horrible. If it's a completely useless fact that will never come in handy, my memory is amazing.
My memory was incredibly good until I got cancer and now its less good. I used to never have to study hard because I retained information easily. Sometimes it feels like my brain just stops working entirely for minutes at a time and I can't even recall words anymore.
Where am I? 🐠
Inconsistent
It used to be not quite photographic but very good. Ever since my sleep went to shit it's gotten noticeably worse. It's actually one of the most pronounced effects of the years upon years of sleep deprivation.
What was the question again?
Bad. Someone has to remind me what happened yesterday or at an event and -boom- I get a recall permission notification that sends me a mind video of a snippet.
Otherwise, my brain is firmly fixated on the present and somehow naively excited about future plans.
I used to think that I cherry-picked the past, but no I just average and flatten it quicker than most.
Introspection is something I'm capable of, but it's mostly feelings based rather than event based because I can't recall examples of my behaviour very well, I just vibe it.
It hasn't affected me at school, my short term memory functions mostly okay, and I excel in getting things done, but it does bother me that my longterm recall is open only to strangers and not to myself.
I’m very good at remembering names, dates, facts, and other bits of information, but am terrible at remembering when I need to do which things in the short term unless I write them down.
How about you?
Really depends on the subject. I can read technical documentation and books on programming easily. And I'll remember a lot of stuff without putting in much effort. Also generally makes it easier if things are connected in a way and I can deduct or reason, or I already know related concepts. I can not however remember things I find uninteresting. It's hard for me to remember names. And memorizing information which is just separate unconnected facts, is a mixed bag. Sometimes my brain happily stores many of them, sometimes I have to sit there for hours and force it to do it.
Very bad.
Are you neurodiverse?
No I am not.
I used to have a really good memory when I was a child and I believe that my technology usage made my memory worse.
I'm good with quotes and passages, bad with everything else, lol.
I don’t remember going to bed last night, so there’s that.
It depends on what I am trying to remember. Unix commands and their options? Sure, that's easy. Words in foreign languages? Harder, but still relatively easy. Names of other people? Fuck no.
Not good. But notes apps and pen / paper exist, so that's that.