Memory Help.

[Roga]

I have a unusual problem remembering things. I'll remember some things but anything little is forgotten. If anyone has any way to help me, it would be greatly apreciated. Although I'd prefer a way without medicine, but if so I'll think about herbal only.

[KickChick]

There are some dietary and nutritional supplements such as vitamin E, folic acid, ginkgo biloba, and vinpocetine that have been studied .... and these memory enhancers have demonstrated some clinical benefits in the treatment of mild memory loss.

Brain Supplement Strategies (http://www.brainplace.com/bp/supplements/default.asp) .. (good info !!)

[Princess]

I have a unusual problem remembering things. I'll remember some things but anything little is forgotten. If anyone has any way to help me, it would be greatly apreciated. Although I'd prefer a way without medicine, but if so I'll think about herbal only.


Have you try "meditation"...? Sometimes it is good to know what to remember... 'coz when you know what you want to know, you soon would find out.. and that would help you trigger the memories...

[David]

I was always bad at remembering names when I was introduced to people. When I examined my mental process at the time of being introduced, I discovered that I was simply making no effort to remember and was intent only on the conversation.

I became embarrassed, as it gives the impression I didn't give these people a second thought... That wasn't the case - I just hadn't given them a first thought.

Now when I meet someone, I mentally and deliberately stamp their name into my head. Making memories is often a deliberate and conscious process.

Rgds,
David

[JohnnyX]

Just like you exercise your body to the benefit, you can also exercise your mind.

There are plenty of books and articles on the WEB about the subject.

It works too.

Cheers. :)

[Picksey]

Try remembering things in different ways, and see if any particular method helps.

1/ For example try mnemonics (like rhymes or silly phrases - to remember the order of the planets I use "Many Volcanoes Erupt Mulberry Jam Sandwiches Under Normal Pressure" = Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter... etc).

2/ Or, use the fact that most people have very pictorial memories - if there's something you want to remember, turn it into a scene in your mind, focus on some details to help you remember it.

3/ Memory is associative - that's why you go upstairs to get something but forget what it was by the time you get upstairs, then infuriatingly remember when you get back downstairs. If you forget something, put yourself (mentally or physically) back where you first thought it. (This is also why some people forget things that happened last time they were drunk, but then miraculously remember again next time they're drunk! :D )

4/ "Mapping" is also very popular with some people, and is commonly used as a revision technique for exams/essays. It makes use of pictorial and associative memory. You start by writing (or even better, drawing, in colour) one concept you want to remember (for example, the King banning weapons in Okinawa), then next to it, linked with an arrows, concepts closely related (the Okinawans being forced to fight empty handed, and a second link to MAs being taught in secret). And then something linked to those ideas, and so on. The more colourful and pictorial the better. I probably haven't described it very well - there are books and videos on it, probably web pages.

Good luck!

[simonlarcombe]

Meditation does help amazingly well. Over time you learn how your memory actually works, all the information is there it's just a matter of learning how to access it.

I used to loose things all the time, couldn't remember where I'd put them. So then you go through all the normal stuff, thinking "where is it, where is it, where is it" trying to retrace your steps and walking around looking etc. The problem is, because you are thinking all the time you don't give your mind the space to present you with the answer, also you're not looking properly because your mind is preoccupied.

Now if I loose something I simply say to myself, "you (my mind) know where it is, please can you tell me" then I simply bring myself back to now (become aware), clear my mind - if you like. Then the answer just comes ... that's how your mind works.

Meditation also helps because you can relax your mind more easily and you are more aware of what it is telling you. The results are quite startling and, in some cases, amusing :)

[Pepsi32123]

Scientist proved a study, people remember better when they study right before a good night's sleep. If you study in the morning, you can just do as Picksey said. In the afternoon, study then go play and study then play...over and over.

[Xio]

Yeah i saw i thing on catalyst about sleep. Make sure your getting enough! when you sleep you go into a few different stages: -first 30 min is shallow sleep
- then you have about 10 min of deep sleep where your mind is flooded with all your memories and stuff
-then it's back to shallow sleep, and it goes in 90 min cycles i think.

meditation - i reckon - is about as necesary as physical activity. like johnny said, you should exercise your mind and your body.

these things definately help with memory

[TigerAnsTKDLove]

i would agree with meditation cuz when your stressed you can't think and when you meditate you clear all your thoughts away and helps you to relax . also it may easier to remember things by pictures and a good thing i like is mnemonics as said.