Living with a memory impairment stresses me out!

March 11, 2017 (Chapter 11 Stress & Anxiety and Chapter 26 MCI Tool Box in my book)

As someone who lives with a memory impairment, not remembering places, events or even people who I should know is not a fun experience. It can stress me out! I can also become scared and it can make me feel sad. Sometimes I cry. I can't choose what I remember or what I forget, because it is not even my choice to have a memory impairment.

Just imagine that you are somewhere and some one knows you and starts talking to you but at that moment you have no idea who they are. How would that make you feel? What do you do in this situation? This has happened to me before and it can be very upsetting and stressful for me. Luckily a short time later, I knew who the person was. Before I recognized them, I let them know that I was having some trouble with my memory. I also said to them, "please remind me who you are and how we know each other."

No one has the right to tell me that this shouldn't bother me because this is not happening to them! It is happening to me! I don't have a choice for it not to happen but I accept that this is just part of my life. I have learned over twelve years how to live with a memory impairment. It is all about being flexible and willing to make changes in order to cope with the symptoms. That doesn't mean that change is easy for me because it is far from easy!

Living with a memory impairment is very stressful. My goal is to lessen my stress whenever possible. Increased stress usually increases my mild cognitive impairment symptoms. That is something that I try to avoid. Learning how to cope with my memory impairment symptoms can also reduce my stress.