Do you find yourself doing things automatically and then don't remember doing it?

AprilSun

AprilSun

Senior Member
Do you do things automatically and then don't remember if you did or not? For example, I will go for my walk and leave thru the basement. When I get back, I will have my mind on something else and then later I don't remember if I locked my basement door back or not. So, I go back downstairs and find my door IS locked. I just went through the motions but didn't pay attention to what I was doing so I didn't know if it was locked or not. I have made so many trips back downstairs just to check the door because it gives me the creeps unless I KNOW it is locked. Do you do this?
 

I do this all the time. We've even gotten part way down the hill and came back to make sure we locked up (and we had). A couple times in the past I've forgotten to put the cloths in the washer and it went through an empty load, so now I keep going in to check and see if I put the cloths in or not. I can't trust myself anymore. :( I've made a rule I can't walk away from the sink if I'm running water and I have to turn off the stove if I leave the room while I"m cooking.
 
I've always been a bit 'dreamy'. I get lost in my thoughts but still carry on with whatever I might be doing. Then I snap out of my reverie and don't remember the details of whatever it was I was engaged in. I did this as a child so I don't think that this is age related. It is about being pre-occupied.
 
Linda said:
I do this all the time. We've even gotten part way down the hill and came back to make sure we locked up (and we had). A couple times in the past I've forgotten to put the cloths in the washer and it went through an empty load, so now I keep going in to check and see if I put the cloths in or not. I can't trust myself anymore. :( I've made a rule I can't walk away from the sink if I'm running water and I have to turn off the stove if I leave the room while I"m cooking.
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Absolutely. You can't afford to screw up with the stove. I am not running my life anymore. There is another "me" inside calling the shots. I am just a witness to my behavior. I can get up, thinking that I'm going to take it easy today, but somehow the other guy says "Stop whining and lets get this off the list so we can take a nap without thinking about it."
 
Warrigal said:
I've always been a bit 'dreamy'. I get lost in my thoughts but still carry on with whatever I might be doing. Then I snap out of my reverie and don't remember the details of whatever it was I was engaged in. I did this as a child so I don't think that this is age related. It is about being pre-occupied.
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Dream on, Warri. Its a good thing. As a kid, I always got "Could do better" on my report cards. I was always more interested in what the bird outside the window might be thinking, than what the teacher was scribbling on the blackboard.
 
I can't ever remember where I parked my car. I go into a store and think "OK, I'm down the row that has the three trees." You'd think that would help me find my car, right? Nope, I either come out the wrong door and don't see any trees or I come out the right door and forget about the trees. Getting old isn't for the faint of heart. Sigh.
 
I do things like that a lot, like Falcon said, better to check things and be safe. Sometimes if we're going out, I automatically lock the back door, then before I'm out the front door, I'll go back and make sure, it's almost always locked. I let my cat out for limited amounts of time everyday if he wants, he usually stays right in our yard. But I'm always trying to remember if the cat is out, in the house, or in the garage. I started opening up the porch window a crack when he was out, as a reminder...then I started to forget to close it when I let him back in, or open it when I let him out. :rolleyes: This has happened over the years though, even when I was working, checking and double checking things, forgetting stuff, etc. Usually get side-tracked especially if I'm trying to multi-task.
 
The Real Issue

Short-term memory loss. Now what was it I was just about to say?? Oh, Yeah! Happens to me all the time, while I can easily come up with details of events which happened decades ago! An example or two: Turned in my Illinois Driver License in Nevada when I moved there, 1972. It's number was H-155-7834-2186.

The '65 Mustang I bought brand new in August, '64, S/N 5F07K284486.

impey
 
My husband can remember his driver's permit number in Oregon when he turned 15. And then it went on to be his drivers lic number too. But don't ask him what he ate for lunch today. :) I write in a journal each day what I do and where I go. If I miss a day my mind is blank and I go find my brother and my husband and see what they can remember and then between the 3 of us I try to at lest get a couple sentences down. It really helps a lot to have a journal of what you've been doing. I have it clear back to 1980.
 
Linda said:
My husband can remember his driver's permit number in Oregon when he turned 15. And then it went on to be his drivers lic number too. But don't ask him what he ate for lunch today. :) I write in a journal each day what I do and where I go. If I miss a day my mind is blank and I go find my brother and my husband and see what they can remember and then between the 3 of us I try to at lest get a couple sentences down. It really helps a lot to have a journal of what you've been doing. I have it clear back to 1980.
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Hear you loud and Clear! (Even though I'm DEAF!) imp
 
AprilSun said:
Do you do things automatically and then don't remember if you did or not? For example, I will go for my walk and leave thru the basement. When I get back, I will have my mind on something else and then later I don't remember if I locked my basement door back or not. So, I go back downstairs and find my door IS locked. I just went through the motions but didn't pay attention to what I was doing so I didn't know if it was locked or not. I have made so many trips back downstairs just to check the door because it gives me the creeps unless I KNOW it is locked. Do you do this?
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How often this happens to me these days!

Shutting, locking windows and doors... locking the vehicle... turning the washing machine water shutoff to off when I'm done doing laundry... double and triple checking that elements on stove are off before leaving the house.
 
Aunt Marg said:
How often this happens to me these days!

Shutting, locking windows and doors... locking the vehicle... turning the washing machine water shutoff to off when I'm done doing laundry... double and triple checking that elements on stove are off before leaving the house.
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This ^^^^^. I find myself always double-checking myself. Also, when leaving a store, I always check my wallet to make sure I still have my credit card, that I didn't leave it in some machine. I have made double-checking myself a habit on these things.

Tony
 
tbeltrans said:
This ^^^^^. I find myself always double-checking myself. Also, when leaving a store, I always check my wallet to make sure I still have my credit card, that I didn't leave it in some machine. I have made double-checking myself a habit on these things.

Tony
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Oh yes, bank cards and such, double check (always) when exiting the bank to make sure I removed it from the ATM and put it back in my purse.
 
Keesha said:
Yes. Especially lately. Luckily I don’t go out often.
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Just do what I do, I leave myself lots of time (try never to feel rushed), and before you lock-up, do a sort of simple rundown on everything.

Stove off, check
Windows shut/locked, check
Toaster unplugged, check
 
wcwbf said:
I find it disturbing to arrive at work or arrive at home after work and not really remember much of the commute!
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Sometimes I get so lost in thought I question if I'm paying enough attention to my driving. I swear the pickup knows the way home some nights.
 

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