The challenges with MCI & talking to people

(Chapter 12 Navigating Relationships While Living with a Memory Impairment in my book)

Sometimes I think that it is easier for me to talk to someone if they know about my diagnosis. It just helps with the anxiety which always makes things worse. I can forget what we are talking about and I just ask them, "what were we just talking about? I have forgotten". Sometimes I say it with some humor in order to help keep my stress level down. Most of the time, once they tell me what we were talking about, I can continue with the conversation, but sometimes I just can't remember what I wanted to say. If this happens, we can just change the subject and talk about something else. I have had to accept this since I can't change the way my brain works. I just do the best that I can and that is all any of us can do.

Usually, I am only comfortable telling people about my diagnosis if we have known each other for a while, otherwise I will not be comfortable with them knowing. When I meet new people, mild cognitive impairment is a secret that I keep to myself.