I was tested by a neuropsychologist to discover whether I could sharpen my middle-aged memory . Here’s what I learned “Oh god, what did I come in here for again?” I say to my 10-year-old daughter as I walk into her bedroom. I run through my neverending to-do list in my mind – washing, homework, sorting out that pile of books for the school fair.
Oh no. I forgot to reply to that work email about the event next week. “Mum, have you booked me onto that school trip? It had to be done by 4pm today,” my eldest son asks.
I slap my forehead. “Hang on, let me just check,” I say, knowing full well that I haven’t. I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge door.
Damn, I forgot to get chicken. “What’s for dinner? I’m starving!” my middle one asks, at that very moment. “Ping!” goes my phone with a work email, which needs responding to immediately.
Welcome to the chaotic world of my mind, which has, over the past few years, gone from being a capable, multifaceted machine that fired on all cylinders to something resembling a barely functional and unreliable starter motor. It all seemed to coincide with the onset of the peri-menopause and even though I’ve been on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for over two years, I still seem to have the memory of a goldfish. In fact, Finding Dory , the Disney film about a very forgetful fish, has never seemed more relatable.
What exactly is brain fog? “Brain fog” is known to be a common symptom of peri-menopause and, .
