How to Stop Losing it or Thinking you are

Dementia is no laughing matter. We’ve dealt with the illness first-hand with members of our family and older friends. However, there are times when we wonder if we’re losing it. We think not but simply are showing signs of normal aging. It could be a lack of sleep, multitasking and overextending ourselves.

Here are some signs that it’s time to slow down, focus on one and maybe two tasks at a time, stop beating ourselves up and consider trying our special remedies. Forgetfulness is often just stress. And you can always ask a very good friend to let you know if they think you are more stressed or forgetful than ever. Just don’t get angry if they tell you the truth.

1. You can’t remember what TV series you were watching last night because you had one eye on the TV and one on the book you were reading. Remedy: Does it really matter? If so, focus on one task at a time.

2. You can’t remember all the TV series you’ve watched since Covid-19 started, so you end up starting to watch the same ones again. Remedy: First, acknowledge that you’ve been watching too much TV. Try a new routine. Read more books, especially fiction where you have to keep the characters straight, play a game like Scrabble that helps you improve memory and word use, try a crossword puzzle. And keep a daily log of each TV show you watch sort of like keeping track of what you’re eating when trying to improve your diet or lose weight.

3. You repeat yourself too much. A friend gently says, “You already told me that story.” Or, you forget some ingredients when shopping and have to go back to the store a second and then a third time. Geez. Remedy: Make a list, (oy, so many lists), bring along a pen or pencil and check off items before you check out.

4. You can’t remember your passwords that you need to get into some accounts. Remedy: We all have too many and need to change them periodically for security. So, the solution is to write them down in a notebook or alphabetized book with tabs, keep them on the computer (not very secure) and remember how you stored them by writing that down too. And when you change one, be sure and change it on your list.

5. You can’t remember where you stored your valuable documents such as birth certificate, passport, title to your home. Remedy: Make copies and put originals in a bank vault or safe in your home.

6. You can’t remember to take a certain medication each night at dinner or in the morning at breakfast. Maybe you have multiple medications. Remedy: Put it or them out on a counter in a prominent spot where it stares you in the face in the kitchen or store them in one of those old-folks-style pill boxes where they’re kept in days of the week. It also helps you remember which day it is. You’re on your own for the month.

7. You can’t remember certain appointments--when you’ve scheduled doctor, dentist or hair appointments or something delightful like lunch with a friend. Remedy: Have a good calendar on your computer, an old-school calendar where you write things down or enter it on your watch or phone. And check it daily. If you forget to do so, write yourself a post-it note as a reminder. And remember to post that somewhere prominent.

8. You can’t remember if you stirred a second cup of flour into the batter or added the baking powder or soda. Remedy: Sorry folks, but another list. Take the recipe and check off each ingredient as you add it. And pay attention when you cook. Don’t yack on the phone or watch TV, even if it’s important news. Ingredients are expensive and who wants to make and bake a flop, let alone eat it!

9. You can’t remember who yo u told to keep a secret. Remedy: Keep your mouth shut if it’s something you don’t want shared with others. If you have to tell someone, pick one person who has a steel-trap mouth and is dependable about keeping your information to themselves. Share at your own risk.

10. We can’t remember if we wrote a blog about this or that. Remedy: Fortunately, this is one list that the website keeps for us so we can go back and check. Probably a lot of our readers can’t remember either or don’t mind reading the topic again with a different spin and updated remedies. Please, forgive us when we do that.

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