Readers reply: why is it simpler to do not forget that I’ve forgotten one thing than to recollect what I’ve forgotten?

Why is it simpler for me to do not forget that I’ve forgotten one thing than to recollect the factor I’ve forgotten? John Grey, York

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Readers reply

Cling on, I do know this. sparklesthewonderhen

As a result of the previous is an idea and the latter is element. Andyouwillknowme

Think about your self fortunate that you would be able to nonetheless do not forget that you’ve forgotten one thing. ItsBouquet

For those who’ve forgotten one thing you had been meant to recollect, fascinated about it an excessive amount of received’t assist. Come again to it in 10 minutes – for those who bear in mind to take action! Edricom

Typically folks use the expression “I forgot” as an excuse. My response has all the time been: “You didn’t neglect – you remembered to neglect.” Richard Dopson, retired psychologist, Vancouver, Canada

Like tying a knot in a handkerchief, however then being unable to recollect why you tied it? Plenty of issues occurring in your thoughts. Juggling many balls within the air, you’re virtually sure to neglect about certainly one of them and solely bear in mind it when the sample is damaged. You want a task-specific memory aid, slightly than the knot within the handkerchief. MrCassandra

Even worse is remembering that you simply forgot to do one thing, then remembering what it was you forgot to do, going again to do it and discovering you’ve already finished it however had forgotten that you simply did it. I believe this occurs to me with growing frequency, however want I knew for certain. BelowTheTideline

I might, after all, be unsuitable, however I’m inclined to suppose we’re not, in the principle, extra forgetful over time, however slightly we put extra significance on the potential for forgetting (and suppose the more severe). I’ve no proof to substantiate this, however I’m not certain I’ve all of a sudden forgotten to recollect issues. I simply suppose, as you age, your pure default is to be involved one has some degenerative illness as a result of that’s what we’re force-fed. After all, there are folks with points, however most of us most likely panic for no cause.

I labored with somebody who received to the place the place he would depart house, get midway to work, then persuade himself he had left the entrance door open, or the cooker on. He gave in and returned house. I typically suppose this, however whereas within the confidence of youth I’d have immediately dismissed it, now I genuinely ponder. I persuade myself my doubt is nonsense and, lo and behold, once I get house, I’m proper. HeathRobinson

Once I can’t discover my eyeglasses, I typically neglect to recollect, whereas I’m meandering right here and there, why I wished them within the first place. Any octogenarian like myself will concur. RPOrlando

I inform my imaginary cat. If I had an actual cat I’d inform it however I don’t. I may not bear in mind doing one thing but when I inform my imaginary cat I’ve finished it, then I’ll bear in mind it. Bizarre, eh? Easytiger77

The mind most likely remembers nearly all the pieces it notices, nevertheless it wants assist to retrieve that info at a later level, particularly when the data was not labelled as necessary. Simply because one thing is “pressing” or “ought to do” doesn’t imply your mind will class it as necessary; it could be one thing you don’t really feel like doing, or aren’t certain about or prepared for, by which case one other mechanism could even be making an attempt that can assist you not bear in mind. You’ll normally bear in mind issues which might be necessary to you or that you simply need to do. For the others, it’s important to train your self tips on how to higher bear in mind, via tags, video games, associations and so forth.

Consider all these tip-of-the-tongue issues: figuring out , however not with the ability to discover the reply at that second. Your mind typically continues looking when you’ve given up, delivering the reply later. Michael

An previous neighbour of ours instructed me as soon as he has tablets to assist his reminiscence, however he forgets to take them. I suppose he was joking. dargie

A quite common cause for short-term reminiscence loss is that evolution has educated us to wipe our short-term reminiscence once we enter a brand new location, in order that we will assess risks. We’re shifting our consideration from reminiscence to the rapid environment, thus we neglect one thing, however know that we’ve got forgotten one thing as a result of we’re in a brand new location and will need to have gone there for a objective.

For instance: I’m in the lounge and wish to reduce off a label from a shirt I’ve simply purchased, however I do know the scissors are within the kitchen. Once I go into the kitchen, I wipe my short-term reminiscence as a result of I shift my focus to the brand new surroundings to seek for threats – mice, rats, snakes. (No, my kitchen is just not that disgusting …) Though I’ve now forgotten why I got here into the kitchen, I do know I did so for a cause; why else would I be there?

The way in which to regain my reminiscence is to retrace my steps. This introduces the paradox that by shifting to the previous location, which is now a brand new location, I re-wipe short-term reminiscence. The distinction is that, as a result of I’m again the place I began, there’s a bodily reminder of my authentic intention to set off reminiscence, so I bear in mind why I went to the kitchen as a result of I can see the merchandise then requires scissors. MrNorrisChangedEmail

It might be some type of tragic relationship situation. Have you ever thought of a profession as a county and western lyricist? Andrew Carroll