The only area you believe you might have memory problems is your telling of personal stories. Since you did not mention how often these memory events occur, it’s difficult to determine how much of a problem they may or may not be.
You might feel better if you consulted a memory specialist and received an objective opinion. A specialist can determine if memory impairment is present. Before the appointment, document the memory loss episodes. Having that documentation will greatly assist your doctor.
Make your doctor aware of any medications you are taking. Certain medications or combinations of medications can result in memory loss. Other conditions can cause memory loss or forgetfulness including: depression, anxiety, alcoholism, hyperthyroidism, head trauma or injury, among others.
If memory problems are present, it is important to receive a prompt diagnosis. The sooner the diagnosis, the sooner treatment can begin. Ask your primary care physician for a referral to a memory specialist.
If an evaluation determines that your memory is fine, consider an alternative explanation. You are primarily concerned about not wanting to be an “annoyance.” This suggests that you might be overly concerned about “bothering” people. If so, this often stems from not feeling worthy or not feeling “good enough.” Counseling is highly effective in addressing problems of self-esteem.
Also, you might simply preface your story or anecdotes with “hey did I tell you about…?” or “stop me if I told you this” or ” did I ever tell you about…?” or “maybe I’ve already told you this but it bears repeating” or any other phrase that says the same thing. Many people do exactly that. It is not uncommon to repeat an anecdote especially if you are interacting with a number of people. Please take care.
Dr. Kristina Randle
