Not remembering something you just did

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Sometimes I'm not sure if I really did something that I just did a few seconds ago. I'll give you two examples:

First example. When I leave my apartment I lock the door. A couple of seconds later, I am not sure if I locked it or not. I have a memory of me locking the door but I can't tell if it's a memory of 2 seconds ago or a memory of one of the many other times I locked the door. So I have to check if the door is really locked and, of course, it always is. If I tell myself that this is stupid and walk away without checking, a few moments later the doubt becomes too big, and I have to go back to check it. Then I feel even more stupid because I have to waste time going back.

Another example. Before going to sleep, I set my alarm clock, then I turn off the light. Two seconds later, I'm not sure If I set the alarm or not. Or if I set it at the right time. So I have to check it. Sometimes I have to do it twice because "maybe" I accidentally unset it during the first check.

I was wondering if this happens to anyone else or if it's just me?

Yep. I do stuff like this all the time. Looks like there's at least a little symptom overlap with OCD.

For your age (55), these kinds of problems will only increase. It's not dementia or Altzheimers. Just that at these ages (I've got about 10 years on you), you're losing memories. You can keep your brain active with crosswords and soduku or other kinds of solitaire games. You can be physically active. Take a good multi-vitamin and have your HCY and B12 levels tested when you have a physical. If you are deficient in either, take a supplement.

Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFA are important to good brain health as well.

"I usually spend half my time looking for things I had in my hand 30 minutes before." -- that sums up my experiences with short term memory issues.

Things like forgetting where I parked the car while I am in the Supermarket. It may be you need to remind yourself what to remember. Otherwise you may forget.

So while locking the door. Say out loud to yourself "I locked the door" and then your brain will be reinforced by the audio cue.

Thor, your symptoms describe me perfectly, I'm constantly forgetting if I locked the door, and setting the alarm clock? Pffft... that can be a 15 minute ordeal (slight exaggeration).

Thanks for your advice, Dad_of_Aspie... I'll be sure to scope that stuff out.

I am the same. I can remember so much from my younger years, parts of conversations even, but what I did yesterday or a minute ago, not so sure.

Age and having ME doesn't help at all.

Ditto the door locking thing. Before going to bed I always check the door is locked and the outside light turned off. However if I'm deep in thought about something else I can end up doing this routine several times, sometimes within seconds of just checking, unsure whether I've done it or not already. The Mrs sometimes points out I'm stuck in a loop.

I think everyone spaces out sometimes. I do it all the time while I'm driving. I can get lost in my own little world yet I stay on the road. When I come back to reality I don't even remember getting to where I'm at.

Yes, yes, and yes,
I noticed a couple of years ago, if was watching a TV show and they were into commercial, I could NOT remember what show it was I was watching. At first, I thought it was just because it wasn't a 'memorable' show, but later I realized it was ANY show. I had to actively PUSH my mind into remembering what I had just watched, and more likely than not, hit the channel guide just to check.

now, if I could just forget I had this neurological condition . . .

Merle

I am exactly the same!! ! But i didn't really think of it like that.
xx

that's your striatum puttin your brain on auto pilot......

i do it all the time. bites me in the butt a lot at work.

i try

near constantly then again I have wider cognitive and memory problems so it doesn't really surprise me.

Same here, door locking (especially if I am going to bed soon, I will check about 4 times before I lie down, then I will lie down and forget if I set the chain on the door.) Alarm clock, I check it, but I just glance to make sure the little glowy light is on.

Someone mentioned watching TV, I forgot what I am watching mid-commercials too. One of the reasons I don't like TV, I figure that if it was memorable enough I would remember. Then it comes back on, and I am like... oh yeah, this is a great show. (next commercial, I forget again.)

I have that 'did I do that today, yesterday or last month' feeling too.
if we can think of a way to remind ourselves. . like a little row of levers on a little box we flick down when we do each routine thing and then we can check the row of levers. When we leave the house, we can flip UP all the levers so we can start again the next day.

that might be a practical way of remembering ( if we can remember to flip the lever in the first place?

Merle