Suddenly realised I was getting old!

It is scary. I stepped into the shower once a few months ago and froze because I looked at it and couldn’t recall how to switch it on. It really scared me. I didn’t feel it was anything to laugh about either. I go cold just remembering the incident.

Going out, locking the front door and looking down to watch the step then seeing you've still got your slippers on.! I should have laughed really, but was close to tears.
My old neighbour did that a few years ago but he had dementia.

Yes but you had the awareness when you looked down EV I froze and felt terrified and sick as I truly did not ‘know’ what to do for a few seconds.

Trying to put car lights on full beam using the wash/wipe stalk and cursing the fact that I would need to get it fixed.

Craftycat and Urmstongran I've had similar episodes and they are quite frightening. Some years ago a severe illness left me with a diagnosed cognitive impairment; this has resulted in some memory problems and an inability to think as quickly as I used to do and I cope with it quite well I think. However there are times when, like you, I find something that I know really well has just gone, disappeared from my mind. Recently I just couldn't remember 'vacuum cleaner' - I was looking at the machine and I had no idea what it was called - I had such a sense of panic!

Craftycat you were just tired. You were simply a bit confused about the way you used to make royal icing, and the way you do it now. You have probably been doing it the old way for a lot longer than you have been using it the bags.

Nothing to be concerned about at all.

I sometimes just cannot remember words or names. I can visualise people and know exactly what the words I'm trying to remember are but, at the time, they're gone! They do come to me eventually and I say them out loud to myself.
How could I forget what Pam Ayres is called! I knew it began with a B. Och!

Thank you grannyactivist for getting it. What I experienced wasn’t in the least ‘jokey’. I was petrified. In fact just like craftycat and by putting an exclamation mark at the end of the title of her thread I think she, in her mind, tries to down play the affect it had on her, bless.

It took days for me to calm down over my memory loss.

I've had it too. I blame our cluttered minds and busy lives. We are constantly on overload.
I think the fact you are aware of it and frightened means you haven't dementia.
Maybe young GC could be prevailed upon to help grandma with the baking thus helping both of you?

I had an experience like this and it left me shaken for days. We went out in the car and I had forgotten something so I came back into the house and couldn’t remember how to unset the burglar alarm. I couldn’t remember the number or which buttons to press, and when I went back to DH who was still sitting in the car, I couldn’t even remember what it was called! I set and unset the alarm regularly during most days without a second thought. It has never happened since but it scared me stiff.

My dh usually drives when we are out. And I rarely drive at night. For no reason other than my social life takes place mostly during the day. However I have been driving for more than 40 years.

Recently I was driving home as it was getting dark. Switched on my main lights. They were on high beam. Putting them to ordinary beam I had no headlights on. For the life of me I couldn’t recall how to just get on the ordinary headlights. It was high beam or nothing.
I had to drive home on high beam probably annoying every oncoming driver.

This really upset me.
I totally understand how you all feel.

I am not sure if it a medical fact but when my Grandmother was suffering from dementia she was unaware that she had forgotten something. Even after being reminded or corrected she still had no idea.
I work on the basis that frightening though it is if I am aware of forgetting something, it can’t be all bad. Hope that helps.?

I am used to the 'what did I come upstairs for?' moments, but I was also scared when one day driving home from the supermarket I didn't recognize the road I was on! It soon dawned on me, but it was very confusing. It was about a year ago and hasn't happened since, fortunately.

Thank you Tuppence yes that helped.

I parked in a large carpark for a local supermarket and three other smaller stores. Did my shopping and went I went outside, I did not have a clue where I had parked my car.

A lady saw me wandering around and offered to help by driving me around until I recognised it. Naturally, I had no idea of the licence number but at least I knew the make and colour. I was so embarrassed and I now make a note of where I have parked.

Something like this happened to me a little while ago, but I can't for the life of me remember what it was. I know it was a bit scary.

A couple of months ago I was in Boots. I hadn't picked up a basket so I had a jumble of stuff in my hands. Waited ages in the queue then realised I'd forgotten to pick up whatever it was I'd gone in for. Mentioned it to the assistant when I got to the till, so she went off to get it for me. When she got back, I was hearing a few sighs and feet shuffling, but I concentrated on getting my wee carrier bag that I carry, out of my crossbody bag (starting to get the picture ??) Got all tangled up with the handles of that, the assistant asked for my Advantage card, gave her that, paid for my goods with my debit card and then tried to give her cash as well. I cannot for the life of me figure out why I did that. More sighing was happening behind me as I held my head high and strutted out the shop. DH was waiting outside but he couldn't understand why I was so bothered. I was bothered because my mind just seemed to freeze. I had no idea what I was doing.

Happened to me too. Got to the cash machine and for the life of me couldn't remember my number. Tried three times, and then my account was locked. Had to get them to send me a new number.

Marelli

You have my every sympathy. That could so have been me.

I regularly go to put some trays away in the wrong drawer. I find myself doing it at least twice a week.

Today whilst shopping in the nearby town I was lamenting the closure of Waterstones from the shopping mall. I turned the corner and there was the bookshop. I was in a different part of the mall ?

I’m glad I’m not the only one with problems.

This is happening more regularly now because I am so stressed with everything that is going on at home. It is indeed very scary. I was going to post an example of this, but I cannot remember which one!

Every day I weigh out my dog’s dinner , a few days ago stood looking at the scales, didn’t know the weight , no idea , no figure would come to mind, it was alarming.

I hope you are all reassured by the postings showing how common this is to all of us!

I think my scariest moment was over ten years ago, driving over to a friend's house, it was near where we used to live, so knew the area really well. As I approached the roundabout, I suddenly had a complete memory loss. I didn't know where I was, where I was meant to be going, or even how to get home. I kept going round the roundabout in terror, and eventually it came back to me.

I have had half second repeats, but nothing like as long as that one, it was absolutely horrible!

Big hugs to all those of you who have shared your experiences, how frightening for you xxx
I would like to ask you if any of you have had the experience of being told you said or did something at some stage, or promised to do something and you have no recollection AT ALL of what is being talked about ? I don't mean the "damn, I forgot I said I would do that" syndrome, we have all at some stage, been through that. I mean really having no memory of the conversation or commitment. This has happened to me several times and I am a bit scared. I am in my early fifties.