Recently I was able to conquer something I thought I would never do again.
Memory loss can happen with various conditions. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, dysthymia, traumatic brain injury, and others.
Although I have overcome my depression, my traumatic brain injury (TBI) is permanent. I have had to learn to live with it and I still have what I call “cognitive blackouts” sometimes as well as other symptoms of TBI. But the most frustrating challenges of TBI for me to deal with are the memory loss and the processing deficiencies.
To cope with memory loss and other cognitive issues, I use these strategies:
- A smart phone contact list. To remember names of people and places and things, I use a smart phone contact list. I enter contacts like this: name of the person, place, or thing in the top line. Then I enter any other information (phone number, address, email information, website). In the notes line I type any words might help me to remember the name into the notes. Then I save the contact. When I cannot remember a name, I try to recall a keyword I might have used when I typed the contact entry. I type that keyword into the search bar of the contact list. Usually, I can find the name I am looking for.
- My journal. Every day I constantly write down everything I see, hear, and do. Then before I go to bed at night, I reread my journal for that day. And when I wake up in the morning, I reread the past few days journal entries. When confronted with a computer problem or any other type of problem, I type a description of the problem, the strategies I used to try to solve it, and how the problem eventually was solved. I also frequently use the find feature in Word (command + “f”) to remember specific details. My journal also comes in handy when I must debate with a business for any reason. I simply find all the entries relevant to that business, copy and paste them to a separate Word document, and read over them. Then I call the business. The customer service representatives are always impressed when I give more detail than any person can remember. Without my journal, I would not be able to communicate effectively with others, nor would I win disagreements with businesses.
- My word list. At the end of my journal, I have a word list. Right now it is about 8 pages long single spaced in Microsoft word. I keep a small tablet and a pen with me everywhere I go. When I cannot remember a word, I ask my husband what the word is that means _______. He usually gives me words until he finds the correct word, then I write down the word in my tablet. Before I go to bed at night, I add the words for that day to my word list. Then I reread the whole list right before I go to bed. After I reread my journal in the morning, I reread my word list. Eventually, I can remember some words in my word list.
- Visualization. When I am having cognitive blackouts or cannot remember things, I relax, take a few deep breaths, and then try to visualize what I cannot remember. Sometimes this strategy enables me to form a mental picture of it.
- Playing the piano. I have been learning to play piano for several years now. Before I engage in any mental challenges, I practice piano. Practicing piano helps my brain to form connections between both hemispheres. These new connections help me to think more clearly and improve my memory.
- Get enough sleep. I try to get at least 7 hours of sleep every night. When I get enough rest, my brain functions better the next day.
- Eat well. Giving your body and your brain the nutrients they need to function helps also.
- Exercise. Exercise stimulates the production of a protein called FNDC5. This protein in turn stimulates the production of a chemical called BDNF. In your brain, BDNF does a few things: preserves existing brain cells, causes brain stem cells to convert into new neurons and promotes brain growth, especially in the area associated with memory, the hippocampus area. I try to walk at least 10 miles a day.
Recently, I read the entire book A Time to Kill by Grisham, and I did not have to reread each page before turning to the next page. I actually read it like someone without a brain injury would!
This achievement makes me wonder what I will conquer next.
Let the encouraging words in these bobbiejrae posts help you
soar like an eagle above life’s storms.
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Yes, YOU can help your country!
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