can't quite put my finger on it

Hello all.

   I've got something bugging me and I can't quite put my finger on it.  Brief description,... I'm 24 male, back in college after an Associates degree and 3 years as a design engineer.  I currently work 30 hours per week and take 18 credit hours, the problem being is my memory.  I've always found it hard to remember dates birthdays, etc., phone numbers, road #'s, but it has gotten to the point that after 4 to 5 weeks of classes, sometimes I couldn't remember when the class started.  I find myself taking too much time over trivial tasks that everybody else breezes through, aggravating me more.  Lately, I've noticed that my temper is increasing although I am very easy-going, but with all the uncerntanies associated with life, work, and school I've found myself being quite mad over the simplest of matters.  Also, when it comes to figuring out complex problems, it's like my mind doesn't work.  Sometimes when people are talking at work and I'm working, I have no idea what they've said, almost to the point that it doesn't sink in! 

Any ideas on what could cause lack of memory, although I've always been terrible at remembering!

Thanks for any help!

Hi schoolboy -

I also wanted to welcome you to the HealingWell forum. It sounds like there's a lot on your plate right now, going back to school and working can place additional stress on anyone. I know when I went back to school after being in the "real world" for 5 years, it was a struggle to get back in the groove of studying again. I would find myself not remembering what rooms my classes were in or opening up a textbook and not understanding a single sentence that was written in it. What I found helpful was actually writting down the class name, date, location, and any other pertinent information on my folder for that class (either on the outside or inside) so that I wouldn't stress myself out in case I couldn't remember. I also carried around with me my class schedule, for the first few weeks, because I couldn't remember which classes were on which days of the week. To me, it seemed when I get stressed out my brain just automatically shuts down and I cannot even process simple conversations. So, I tried to find ways to limit my stress level and find ways so that I don't have to remember everything. The more I can write down the better. For example, after I got all of my class syllubus's I used a different color highlighter for each class and put all of my assignments into my planner. That way I had a quick reference to what was due when.

I also found it extremely helpful just to hang out with other folks after classes to have someone else to talk to about the struggles of going to school. It always made me feel better when I would hear someone else's story of what they were dealing with, since it made me feel like I wasn't the only person going through it. I was also able to make new friends and had other people to study with who could help explain some of the concepts that were beyond my grasp at the time. For my really difficult classes, I even signed up for tutoring, since I felt like I wasn't getting it. But, come to find out eveyone else was in the same boat - I was just being proactive.

Lastly, as far as getting angry over what will happen next in life, that is a perfectly normal reaction to life's uncertainties. I mean going back to school is tough enough, but throw in there the whole financial committement, deciding if you want to stay with the current job or find a new one, and just trying to balance your school work with your work load can be challenging. So, try to give yourself some credit - not everyone has the determination to go back to school after being out in the workforce. You give up your weekends, you make personal sacrifices regarding your friends and family, and get less sleep (or at least I did). But, in the end I'm very glad I did. I mean I landed my dream job and I absoulutely love what I'm doing now - which I wouldn't even have qualified for without going back to school. So hang in there and try not to be too hard on yourself!