Dear Sarah - Why can't I remember anything?

A few weeks ago I was running a workshop on something totally unrelated to memory and a woman asked me if it was possible that she had early dementia. She went on to say that she was struggling to remember even the most mundane daily things in life, like where she put her car keys, what time she needed to meet a friend and what she had decided to cook for dinner. She knew that I had a Master's degree in Aged Services and knew quite a bit about dementia so thought she would ask while she had the opportunity.

Pretty soon several other women in the group were sharing similar stories. Whilst there may be a very slim chance that one of them may be developing early onset dementia, when I asked them to share some of their other signs and symptoms it became apparent very quickly that what they all had in common were just some of the things we can expect with perimenopause.

I started to talk about perimenopause and most of them hadn't heard about it and this is also very common. We all know about the menopause but most women don't know about the decade or so leading up to it and therefore they don't associate their wide range of signs and symptoms with it.

'Brain fog' or 'fuzzy thinking' is just one of the many signs and symptoms of perimenopause. The good news is that you can do something about it. Here are three things that you can do, today and this week, to enjoy clearer thinking.

• Get more quality sleep. If you go to bed late and get up early, or spend all night tossing and turning trying to sort out problems or have difficulty getting to sleep because you were working on your laptop, checking out facebook or watching television until you tried to sleep then you will have poor quality sleep. Make it a rule to have no screen time for at least 30 minutes before bed, and read when you get into bed before going to sleep. Make sure that your room is quiet, dark and aired and that your bed is comfortable with layers that you can throw off if you get hot (or add if you get cold). This lets our body restore and regenerate for each new day.
• Have a look at your diet and work out how many processed foods and sugar-laden foods you eat every day. Consider reducing these or even cutting some out (you can enjoy them now and then). Too much caffeine can have a negative effect on memory and thinking, as can too much sugar. Drinking more water will also help.
• Relax more often and reduce your stress where possible. It can be difficult to both relax and to find ways to reduce stress but it can be achieved even if done slowly over time. Write down all the things you are feeling stressed about and work out what you can do for each item. It may involve the advice and help of others, such as delegating domestic tasks, getting professional advice on financial matters and taking action for other issues. Choose three ways that you love to relax and incorporate them into your day and week. You will need to write them in your diary or they may never take place. A 20 minute walk can do wonders for stress and for your health, book a coffee meet up with a friend, get your nails done, read a book that has been on your list for months, stroke the dog/cat, have a relaxing bath, go for a swim or do something creative. Watching television does not count!

For more information on any of the above you can email me at sarah@beautifullybalanced.com.au or write in the comment box below.


Enjoy clearer thinking

love
Sarah