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Why did I experience a few seconds of total memory loss?

By February 20, 2011 - 7:36am
 
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Last night I woke up after a couple hours of sleep and for a few seconds I could not remember anything! As with most people, I have awaken at night wondering if it were a weekday or weekend and feeling relieved to know it was the weekend....:) However, I have never experienced what I experienced last night. I did not even know who was sleeping in the other bedroom. I was totally blank. My heart was racing. After a few seconds, my memory slowly began to return. I repeated over and over my name, who was sleeping in the next room, song lyrics, information about my family. I was afraid to go back to sleep for fear that it would happen again and last longer or permanently. Please help....

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

it happend to me once . i woke up and i couln't remenber where was i.
the room was unknown to me . it took a couple of seconds wondering where was i .."Am i on my grandmother house ??.. no am i on my old hometown .. no not there. ok i'm leaving on the U.S.A.. my mother lives here ..i've been living here for 8 years ..." that's how it happend.

couple of months later i saw a familiar guy at the mall but couln't remember who it was after 5 seconds i realized he was my 15 year old friend and ex neighbor .
i'm 28 years old what could be my problem

August 26, 2012 - 10:57pm

I agree with you. In your case, to helped you sleep better, I would try yoga, relaxation techniques, or even hypnosis. Unfortunately, in my case, it is total loss for few seconds then back to normal. It is very scary experience and hope it won't come back

November 15, 2011 - 8:38pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

about a year ago i started loosing my memory about things i've done in my life, such as vacations with the kids,important dates,peoples names that i've met, etc. I've seen my doctor and had all the brain scans, physicals, and blood work done ,and she says i'm in good shape. then she sent me on a sleep test and they said I have sleep apnea. so i've been on the c-pap for about a year but my memory is getting worse. i'm 55 don't drink alot or do any drugs, and because my doctor can't think of anything else she wants me to start anti depressant drugs and i'm not agreeing with that. what do you think

November 15, 2011 - 7:19pm

Can you explain why this is concerning to you? I want to make sure I understand the situation, because if you were asleep and you had a memory loss for only a few seconds, it is most likely attributable to the type of sleep you were in...is this what you are wanting to know? If you are curious about how sleep effects our memory, I can provide you some information.

However, it sounds like you are concerned about this, and it scared you enough that you did not want to go back to sleep. Can you explain why this was such a traumatic event for you? Has it happened in the past, do you have have a history or family history of memory-loss type conditions? Do you have any other medical conditions?

February 20, 2011 - 8:12am
(reply to Alison Beaver)

This has never happened before. I sat straight up in bed and my heart was racing. It was just a terrifying experience because I could not recall anything at that moment. I am just wondering if it could be a sign of neurological problem of some sort. I am still a little worried that it might happen again. Chances are it may never happen again....at least I pray that it won't. I did have a very stressful week, which I have had before, but never experienced this.

February 20, 2011 - 8:17pm
(reply to Lee2044)

You know your body best, and if you are feeling that this is more than a one-time occurrence, and is a symptom of a medical condition, please do not hesitate to call your doctor about your combined symptoms (heart racing, memory loss, excessive stress). Adults can absolutely have heart-racing, confusion and intense anxiety during a nightmare, especially after a stressful or traumatic event. Chronic stress, sleep-deprivation, poor nutrition, unhealthy coping skills, other medical conditions...these could all be factors in anxiety or sleep disturbances.

It is impossible for anyone online to properly go through every scenario, as your doctor would be privy to your current medical status, health history, etc. However, a few things for you to consider:
1. A neurological problem typically would have other symptoms, such as some loss of muscle coordination during this isolated event. If you have any family history of neurological disorders, you may want to talk with your doctor about your concerns.
2. Lifestyle-related behaviors can absolutely lead to your symptoms (stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, lack of nutrition, excessive alcohol or other drug use, etc).
3. Have you experienced other mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression?
4. Have you had any sleep disorders or sleep conditions?
5. Are you within a healthy weight range?

As you can see, the symptoms you describe could be explained in many different ways, and it is all dependent on what else is going on in your life, as well as the status of your health.

I am happy to continue talking with you about this, if you would like a "sounding board".

February 20, 2011 - 9:43pm
(reply to Alison Beaver)

I have been following your comments because I am experiencing few seconds of memory loss and wanted to get info. This happened to me several times over the past few years. Once while I was driving. Did not know where I was who I was , where I was going etc. It took few seconds to regain my memory.
It also happened last week, while I was at art class. Just for a second, lost all memory , same feeling for not remembering anything. then gradually I got my memory back . Very strange feeling when this happen , very scary too.
I am 51, 6 ft. 185 lb, Healthy in general little high cholesterol 230 High SPK level 300 - 900(was told Muscular dystrophy) But I do not believe that because I am muscular and still play soccer. Also very low white count 2.1 - 2.5. This is going on for the past 25 years of so. I drink but not too much, and I was not drinking when this happened. I do not do drugs. I am not on any medication except for Acid reflux.
Any idea what that is. I hope I do not have to go through lots of tests again. I did so many for the blood spk and white counts and hope not to go through that again.

November 15, 2011 - 12:08pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Mike H)

I am 30 years old a white male when it first happened I was taking a medication called rivotrill aka tamazapam and clonazapan colonopin and primidone. At first when it happened we all thought drug induced amneisia it's been months I am off of it all. Doctors are like your fine I have had a MRI I've even been told no longer bipolar etc and sleep I have sleep apnea yes. Here comes the catch though I weighed originally 347 pounds smoked diped etc ( no I don't have cancer no copd) now I weigh 243 but I am very thin looking. It should of not arisen then if it was sleep apnea, this is what happens and it happens everyday. I go to sleep ( it doesn't matter what you do it happens) I wake up I know it's going to happen so when I wake up before I open my eyes I repeat when you open your eyes on 3 you are awake your in your house one two then I don't say 3 I repeat one your fixing to wake up 2 prepare 3 it won't last long one two 3 open my eyes it starts to count down from 5 seconds to 15 bam memory loss maximum you can in a weird way ask me to spell world backwards etc run any test you wish ask me math questions I'll get them right but mentally random music is playing I start recalling dreams the confusion begins to amplify the remembrance of dreams triggers the worse effect ever it will make it not last seconds try 26 minutes hell on earth sometimes even not a outer body expirence but splitting I can be in the kitchen seeing through my normal vision but also watching my parents and sometimes it's as if I am awake I feel and my brain one side is working but the other has fallen a sleep. And the worst part is stress? I have died when i was 16 had a full nde unfortunately truthfully I'm not paid to lie about it I went to hell. Anyways it's simmular kind of. ' no not dmt' in the effects of the terror it inflicts imagine you have a panic attack to the point it is beyond depersonalizitaion deralization to the point you are mentally gone surely your theyre people think your fine but simply your not theyre the worse is the split as I like to call it. Look I used to be a phych patient I am personally even friends with a few psychiatrist no one knows what it is neither do i. But the split is crazy you can't even explain it it doesn't allways happen but when it does I scream fu$$ help me I'll face downwards it then happens I can talk but I am in two separate places that is terrifying then bam back to one you just want to call 911 much like the first time some one has a panic attack. I've had thousands of panic attacks this makes a panic attack panicky trust me what ever it is also not only seems to be me. I read about it in forums etc but doctors overlook it. It's not sleep drunkness or sleep paralysis I have had sleep paralysis as a child twice it's terrifying but it seems 100% real but this is something I've never had never seen and it seems to be spreading to others. If they're was a cluster we could figure it out. But when phychiatrist think it's a joke neurologist can't find anything and it's not sleep apnea explain that please. Ps before any doctors nurses etc chime in half of my family is doctors some are specialists. This is stupid what ever is going on has 0 cause it's not colonopin not sleep apnea not a mental disorder then what is it honestly lol? It never last past 30 minutes ever normal time 15 most shortest 10 minutes the after effects are so traumatic you never even get over the first one. Peace

May 3, 2017 - 11:07am
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