Relax, your memory is not actually failing.

Don't worry if you find yourself forgetting everyday things. It's completely normal and actually a good thing! In fact, if you didn't occasionally forget where you parked your car, you may never find it again. We all forget things, whether it's our keys, phone, or even our glasses. But these are things that our brains are designed to forget. Imagine if we remembered every single place we've ever parked our car - it would be overwhelming and confusing to sort through all of those memories to find the most recent one.

Despite this, many people still worry about forgetting things. Fortunately, Dr. Megan Sumeracki and Dr. Althea Need Kaminske are here to reassure us that forgetting is not always a bad thing. These US academics have co-authored a book about our minds - The Psychology of Memory - and they believe that forgetting can actually be beneficial. "People who worry about losing their memory are not alone," says Dr. Sumeracki. "As we age, it's common to experience a decline in memory ability and this can be a source of fear. Our memories are a vital part of our daily lives, so the thought of losing them can be scary."

However, the authors also remind us that memory is not a singular thing. There are multiple types of memory and they function in different ways. "When most people think about memory, they often think of their cherished moments - like a special birthday, the birth of a child, or meeting a partner," explains Dr. Sumeracki. "We don't want to lose these memories because they feel like a part of our personal identity. But there are also other types of memory that are more useful in our day-to-day lives." For example, we need our short-term and working memories to hold conversations and our semantic memory to remember basic information like what a car or chair is. Our memories are essential for our daily functioning, so the thought of losing them can be unsettling.

Some people may worry that forgetting simple things is a sign of a more serious issue, but this is not always the case. Forgetting where you parked your car or someone's name is completely normal. In fact, research shows that it is easier to remember a person's profession than their name. This is because names are abstract and not as meaningful as a person's profession. The authors assure us that there is nothing that is truly impossible to forget, though some things are less likely to be forgotten than others.

However, forgetting important information about yourself, like your name or address, can be a sign of dissociative amnesia caused by trauma. But even in these cases, memories can be recovered. And in some cases, forgetting is actually a coping mechanism for traumatic events. "Having persistent memories of traumatic events can be a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)," says Dr. Sumeracki. "But in PTSD, the inability to forget is actually the problem."

Interestingly, one of the best ways to learn is by forgetting. The authors recommend spaced practice, which involves spreading out practice with information over time. This allows our brains to process the information more effectively. Retrieval practice, which involves actively recalling information from our memory, also helps improve memory. The authors suggest combining these two strategies for optimal learning. They also note that our physical health can impact our ability to remember, as our brains are part of our bodies. So it's important to take care of ourselves by getting enough rest, food, and water.

It's important to note that forgetting and cognitive fatigue can also be symptoms of other health issues, such as depression or autoimmune diseases. While significant changes in memory should be investigated, there are multiple possible causes. And for most of us, forgetting is just a natural part of being human. In fact, we start losing childhood memories as early as our mid- to late-twenties. On the bright side, this may explain some questionable fashion choices from our teenage years.

In conclusion, forgetting is a normal and necessary process for our brains to function effectively. So the next time you forget where you parked your car or someone's name, don't panic - it's just your brain doing its job. And if you want to learn more about memory, be sure to check out The Psychology of Memory by Dr. Megan Sumeracki and Dr. Althea Need Kaminske, coming out on May 16, 2024.

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