bridekirk said:I am new here so pleas bear with me. After a history of mental health problems includinng OCD and PTSD I started to find I was getting confused and forgetful. Cinfusion included things like not being able to distinguish between stop and go signs at traffic lights, forgetting where I was going when driving., remembering parts of recent conversations with people but not remembering who i had had the conversations with, forgettign thjat I had taken the car and getting the bus back home, and having no idea what I wanted from the shops when i got there, forgetting appointments, dates etc. I was getting very frsutrated and angry with myself. i am a 56 year old male and in 2003 completed an honours degree in modern history having gicven up a career in shippiong and forwarding to start teaching. Hence my frustration in getting mixed up etc. I was receivi9ng councelling from my clinical phsycololist for PTSD and mentioned these memory problems. Subsequently I had an MMSE test. I had no idea what this was about ubntil after I had it. The questions were very simple and I know know are standard. I made a bit of a mess of it and got really upset at not being able to count backwardss and failing to rememebr 2 of the three words and a few other things. I was told I scored 25. I am due to see my doctor for follow up but am sick with worry at the result. it seems this is quite a low score fro someone of my age and educational background and I just dont think I can face another health blow

Hi, Bridekirk.  You speak very well and are clearly well-educated.  It sounds like you have worked hard, had a good career, and also been through some trauma in your life.  Your memory probelms may be the result of stress, and temporary- coming and going as stress takes its toll or relaxation and healthy living and happiness heal.  Or they could be physiological- and a disability that you will need to live with for the rest of your life.  Think of it like a broken arm.  Get about the business of ordering your life to live with the disability.  And if it subsides that is great.  If it persists, you have taken care of you.  Take care of you.  Try not to be frustrated with yourself over something you can' t help.  If you accept your memory problems and find "work-arounds"- such as someone to drive you where you need to go- maybe some lifestyle "downsizing"- creating good records for yourself- taking notes when you need to- you can find a life with less work and more peace.  Fifty six is a tough age for everyone- the body is starting to ache, the mind is tired, and the "security" of social security is still far down the road.  If you can be gentle with yourself, and make it your business to put in place the systems and life you need to thrive with a memory disability, you can still have and be all the best of you- you just have a broken arm.  Control the parts you can- and let the rest go.  Worry won't help and definitely can make it worse.  Do you get enough sleep?  Make sure you give your brain the time it needs to heal and re-charge- every single day.  DEMAND that your doctors test all possible sources of the problem- e.g., test for potential vitamin deficiency..  That is in case there is a simple cause with an easy fix.  You are a smart, vital guy, and I am rooting for you!  Hoping someone will chime in here with some info about the MMSE test!