Memory problems – When should you be alarmed?

Image source: indiatimes.com

Memory loss stands to be one of the most common issues in mental health today, and it raises a lot of questions in people's minds. According to Dr. Curtis Cripe, many individuals find themselves struggling with their memory, but when is it a simple case of forgetfulness, and when does it become something more serious? He shares his thoughts on this in today's blog.

In everyday life experiences, people have had moments when their memory has failed them one time or another. Some may have forgotten a person's name. Others may have even had an episode or two of not remembering where they put their keys or something closely associated with them, like a pair of spectacles. Some folks may have even experienced forgetting to lock the front door.

Dr. Curtis Cripe shares here some scenarios that should give you a cause for concern.

One example of a red flag is when you forget the names of people you are relatively familiar with. Perhaps it's somewhat normal to forget the name of an acquaintance from the past. It may be acceptable even to forget your neighbor's name if you don't go any further than the casual "hi and hello," which doesn't even happen every day. If you forget the name of your best friend, your favorite cousin, or even an immediate family member, there is definitely a problem.

Image source: health.harvard.edu

Another sign of an issue is when you start forgetting common patterns of action that you are supposed to know, otherwise known as schemas. If you can't remember how to drive a car all of a sudden, or if you are typically immersed in work, and you suddenly don't know how to operate your own computer, you need to be brought to a specialist right away.

Finally, you know you have a memory issue when you suddenly don't remember how to reach places which are supposed to be familiar to you, says Dr. Curtis Cripe. You might get lost in a place that has seen many urban developments since the last time you were there a couple of years back. However, the issue gets more serious if you forget how to go back to your own home, especially if you've been doing this routinely for many consecutive days prior.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., comes from a multidisciplinary academic and professional background that spans several disciplines, which include bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, behavioral medicine, brain injury, and child neurodevelopment. Today, he is the director of research and development at the NTL Group. For similar reads, visit this page.