Is there a actual, medical or psychological term for the condition where you actually forget how to do the most basic of things for a moment? I know that many people refer to this as a [Sideshow Bob shudder]‘brain fart’[/Sideshow Bob shudder], but frankly, I don’t like that term. AND, I’d like to know what causes it, AND I’d like to know that I’m not the only one experiencing it.
A few days ago, I sat at my desk, typing away and completely forgot how to spell chair, for a good thirty seconds. It was so strange.
And then yesterday, I went to the pool for my usual workout, swam thirty laps, did sprints for a few minutes, stretched…AND FORGOT HOW TO SWIM. I just stood at the end of the pool, completely unsure of how to proceed. I shook my head clear and all was well, but come on…
IANAD, but my guess is that you are going through the same aging process the rest of us are… if you were, say 17 I would suggest that you see a doctor immediately but if you were, say 35, I would say welcome to the club! Sounds like a classic aging memory problem…
Forgetting things like names, places, events I think is fairly common at middle age (whatever that means) and gets progressively worse as you get older… for most people at least. My mother, who is in her early 70’s can’t remember names and faces at all these days… it’s very frustrating for her but we all realize it’s part of growing older. She went to the doctor and he assured her there was nothing organically wrong. We just had a party for my 90 yo great uncle and his mind is sharper than mine! Everybody is a little different.
As for why it happens? I’ve heard theories for memory loss from inadequate cerebral blood flow to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Again, unless you are very young or this problem has literally happened overnight there is probably nothing to worry about (and nothing you can really do about it…) but to repeat… IANAD.
I understand that memory loss is common as we age, but this…is something different, mainly because it’s only for a few seconds…and it’s not like “where’s my keys”, it’s like “how do I turn on the computer”.
It’s almost like the part of my brain that runs these semi-automatic tasks shuts down for a second.
Oh, yes, this is QUITE common. I’m only 24, male, no history of mental illness or fainting spells (at least not when sober)and this happens with regularity. One twist: I’m eidetic. That is, damn near photographic. Last night I wandered around Barnes & Noble’s fiction section for half an hour trying to remember an author’s name. Not an uncommon occurence, right? Well, it is when he’s your favourite author, you have copies of his books (two copies of each, one to read and the other to keep–they’re inscribed personally to me), have met him twice and have even gone so far as to engage in semi-regular correspondence with the author. All told, I suppose I’ve thought this guy’s name, written it, said it and typed it about a hundred thousand times. Could not for the life of me even recall if it started with a consonant or a vowel.
Irvine Welsh, by the way.
I refer to it as “mental vapor lock”. Probably not a bad analogy, since memory is electrochemical, and when you blank on something seroiusly, or, in re the OP, forget how to do something physical, it’s a case of dendritic misfire.
Oh, and BTW, jarbaby, how much work have you had done on your back and spine? This combined with the shaking (see “hippy hippy shakes” thread from WAAAYY back in the day) makes me think that maybe there’s some nerve damage somewhere. Either that or it’s RSI from using the fuckhammer.
I’m glad I’m not the only one. Like you say, it’s not like forgetting where you left your car. I had an episode where for about 3-4 seconds I forgot how to climb down stairs. I knew I knew, and I knew that I’d done this about a gazillion times, but I didn’t know how to start. Geez.
I’ve never actually forgotten how to drive a car (thank god, esp. while driving) but a couple of times I’ve been unable to engage the ‘autopilot’ as it were, and had to logically think out what to do next. That’s scary, I can tell you.
Alzheimer’s?
I did a couple searches and came up with “benign senescent forgetfulness” and “age-related memory impairment.”
I’d be interested to know if this is common with you (or others) and if the frequency of these types of mental lapses has changed.
I have moments like these though usually I just forget what I was about to do. I’ll walk from one room to the next and forget what I went into that room for. One time, I forgot how to get home while driving. I think it took me about a minute to remember.
I like to think of myself as your typical absent minded genius minus the genius part. I think I’m more absent minded now than ever but it doesn’t interfere with my life or performance of daily activities.
check out this link to learn a little more about causes and treatments.
It’s one of the more informative ones I found.
Sheesh, False_God, I’m all screwed up, eh? I’ve been tested for nerve damage and I’m sure I have a LITTLE bit because my left leg falls asleep all the time.
How much work on my back? Three years worth, but it amounts to nothing, just physical therapy, stretching, traction.
It COULD be the six different medications I’ve been prescribed for back pain, but this memory thing happened long before my back ever bothered me.
You should have seen me try to start swimming yesterday. It was friggin COMEDY. I couldn’t remember how to start moving my arms and legs!
I should mention that I’ve heard of mild seizures which everyone gets…that is, moments where one is suddenly lacking in memory for the past few moments, one has experienced a very mild seizure.
Ive had this (but not that regularily!) and its a very odd experience. I once had a guy turn to me and say: ‘Fuck, Ive completely forgotten how to spell ‘of’!’ I laughed, but then said: ‘Well obviously its ‘O…’ waitasec…errr. SHIT! is it U-V? O-V? no no its O-F. thats it! you idiot.’ The act of [there i did it - yay!] thinking about it made me completely forget it.
With stairs especially, you may notice that if you try to deliberately run down stairs you can’t actually do it because normally you do it automatically.
OH MY GOD! Nukeman, do we know each other? Was I, in fact, the friend who blanked on it? I was just about to respond that I had forgotten how to spell “of” in a paper I was writing in high school. Just completely blanked. u-v. No, that can’t be right. o-v. Crap! Nothing looks right! I eventually resorted to picking up a book and flipping through until I ran across it and recognized it. I’ve never told anyone about that before, though. Too embarrassing.
Ok, having done some extremely rapid and unscientific research, I’m willing to offer the following untrained, unregistered and quite possibly full-of-shit diagnoses.
(I called a doctor friend and did a shufty through DrKoop.com. Shoot me-I’m not a medical doctor anyway.)
Mini-strokes or “strokelets” affecting comprehension and muscle memory
Neutrotransmitter insuffiency due to dietary imbalance or
endemic condition (genetic, maybe?)
3)Oh, shit, I usually know what goes here…
Small blood clots floating randomly around the veins that pass oxygenated blood to your brain
Someone’s been shooting staples at the back of your head and they’re starting to work their way into yr. brain
6)Kuru, CZJ, or BSE (your nickname IS “steak”, right?)
OOOORRR…
Lost time events and the like may indicate alien abduction. Side effects include creative swearing, random metal-fabrication consultant lust and a propensity for things Germanic. Damage may include rooting for the Cubs.
Hey! HEY!! The Cubs have the best record in the National League right now! And I’ve hardly ever been abducted by aliens! You goatish, tickle-brained skainsmate!!
SCSimmons:
Hey! HEY!! The Cubs have the best record in the National League right now! And I’ve hardly ever been abducted by aliens! You goatish, tickle-brained skainsmate!!
Dude-before we judge too quickly, I have something to say in my defense. Not only are the Cubs the only ball team I’ll watch play on TV,I, too have a bewildering history of fan affilitation. I used to (sob) root for the Saints.
Oh, and my dad’s a Dodger fan. Just kill me now. I’m definitely an abductee.
Jarbabyj:
Ich bin deine metallfabrikenkonzultant. Kommst du mit in meine schlafkamer und wir allen nacht Rammstein horen. KUBS STEIGEN! HEILIGEN KUHE!
SCSimmons:
Hey! HEY!! The Cubs have the best record in the National League right now! And I’ve hardly ever been abducted by aliens! You goatish, tickle-brained skainsmate!!
Dude-before we judge too quickly, I have something to say in my defense. Not only are the Cubs the only ball team I’ll watch play on TV,I, too have a bewildering history of fan affilitation. I used to (sob) root for the Saints.
Oh, and my dad’s a Dodger fan. Just kill me now. I’m definitely an abductee.
Jarbabyj:
Ich bin deine metallfabrikenkonzultant. Kommst du mit in meine schlafkamer und wir allen nacht Rammstein horen konnen. KUBS STEIGEN! HEILIGEN KUHE!
