I'm 22 and i'm suffering bad short term memory loss

[DK007]

Hi, I'm 22 years old and I suffer from bad short term memory, When i was younger 15-18 i smoked alot of Marijuana to combat with depression and i fear that it has done permanent damage to my memory.

Since then I haven't smoked Marijuana in years because of the realization that it wasn't helping me at all, that instead of combating my depression it was just clouding it and covering it until i didn't feel it anymore.

I'm on no other drugs and I've been clean since i was 18, nor in that time did i do anything harder than Marijuana and my short term memory doesn't seem to be great or normal. I feel that others are learning things quicker than i am and that it takes me longer to memorize information.

Is there anything i can do to help my memory, I'm in IT and i can learn things out of repetition but other things like arr memorizing code or the way a certain program works i lack the ability to memorize it easily. I find myself re-reading over and over again because i have forgotten the start of the paragraph.

Please help, its becoming a burden and i really don't want a short period of my life to effect the rest of my life.

Thank you.

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Please check the links below there are some very good exercises to improve memory.
http://www.web-us.com/memory/improving_memory.htm

http://web-us.com/MEMORY/mnemonic_techniques.htm

Hope you find them useful.

[DK007]

I would love to learn another language but nothing sticks, tho this is a problem i've had since i was young my father being from another country, but no matter how i try i can't get my head around it.

I have done puzzles but more find where pieces go by matching up the colours other than memory in other words its about searching other than arr i've seen this colour somewhere or oh that's apart of this part etc etc

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

You can try some memory enhancing exercises like solving puzzles. Another very good way to improve the memory is to learn a new language or a musical instrument. Also do some deep breathing exercises to keep you relaxed as stress and anxiety can also cause problems in concentration and memory.
Hope this helps!

[ggreg]

The weed didn't do this.  You're having trouble concentrating is all.  I remember when I was studying program languages at university, I realized it was like the trouble I had memorizing foreign languages.  It's very BORING and not all that easy to understand.  I would make A and B grades in classes, but had to re-take foreign languages because I'd flunk them.

Try changing up the time that you read that stuff, like do it in the morning after breakfast and a cup of coffee.  Or don't spend hours on computer learning; instead do it in spurts, like a chapter in a sitting, wait a couple hours, sit down between classes and go at another one.  You will probably need a partner to study the computer stuff.  Helps to talk about what you've just studied, if you pause, then you refer back to the book, find what's missing in your memory, and continue talking.  

If you remember your multiplication tables, and if I can remember whole speeches in Shakespeare from acting in plays, you can memorize all that computer junk.  And dare I say this, but consider changing majors or field of study.  Also, this is obvious, but be sure you get enough rest, because lack of sleep can totally ruin concentration.

And since you had depression issues in the past, that is frustration or anger turned inwards.  So, you are the type of person that has to do athletic things or positive creative things to get all that awful feeling OUT of you, and also to build up positive points in your mind about how you CAN accomplish things.  

[ggreg]

The weed didn't do this.  You're having trouble concentrating is all.  I remember when I was studying program languages at university, I realized it was like the trouble I had memorizing foreign languages.  It's very BORING and not all that easy to understand.  I would make A and B grades in classes, but had to re-take foreign languages because I'd flunk them.

Try changing up the time that you read that stuff, like do it in the morning after breakfast and a cup of coffee.  Or don't spend hours on computer learning; instead do it in spurts, like a chapter in a sitting, wait a couple hours, sit down between classes and go at another one.  You will probably need a partner to study the computer stuff.  Helps to talk about what you've just studied, if you pause, then you refer back to the book, find what's missing in your memory, and continue talking.  

If you remember your multiplication tables, and if I can remember whole speeches in Shakespeare from acting in plays, you can memorize all that computer junk.  And dare I say this, but consider changing majors or field of study.  Also, this is obvious, but be sure you get enough rest, because lack of sleep can totally ruin concentration.

And since you had depression issues in the past, that is frustration or anger turned inwards.  So, you are the type of person that has to do athletic things or positive creative things to get all that awful feeling OUT of you, and also to build up positive points in your mind about how you CAN accomplish things.