From the article: Tips for Dealing with Cognitive Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
I imagine that everybody (MS or not) could all use some suggestions on how to "keep things straight" and think clearly in a chaotic world. For those of us with MS-related cognitive dysfunction, the frustration of forgotten appointments, misplaced items and a diminishing vocabulary can cause just as much anxiety as any of our physical symptoms. Please help us out by offering up your tips for staying on top of things. Don't worry if your approach seems childish or obvious. You may just have an idea that will help someone else avoid unnecessary stress. Share Your Tip
Cognitive Dysfunction Tips
- I get reflexology treatments once a week. It helps a great deal!
- —Guest bboff2100
Cognitive dysfunction
- I forget where I put things so now I put keys in the same place everyday I park my car in the same spot everyday at work and at the stores I park in the same area Walmart by the garden area target down the lane of the pharmacy sign. I had a good laugh I couldn't find the moist canned cat food I opened in the morning and put in the fridge in a container in the evening so the cat got dry food that evening The next evening I opened the spice cabinet to cook dinner. There was the cat food in the container all disgusting Apparently I put it in the cabinet and not the fridge Don't worry I opened a new can for the cat
- —Guest Karen 46
Cindy
- If I am trying to remember to take certain things with me, I put everything on the table by my car keys. I try to use the same logic with everything I need to do. I try to think of the one thing that I will always go to and put everything else there with that. Hopefully I will remember that I was the one that put it there in the first place. LOL ;)
- —Guest Cindy
WORKING PUZZLES
- I WORK SUDOKU AND EASY CROISSWORD PUZZLES AS WELL AS WORD SEARCH TO COMBAT COGNITIVE MISFIRES --- IT SEEMS TO HELKP AND ONLY TAKES ABOUT 20 MINUTTES PER PUZZLE !!!
- —Guest LINDA MILLS FOUTS
Master List
- Since I get easily distracted, I use a daily master list of things I feel needs attention. It is divided into sections "Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, Household, Things to do for others". The most important things get put at the top of each list. I try to do the most important thing from each each list first and then start over.
- —Guest Shiela
Frustrated
- I can't remember anything much. I can't remember my life. I was told last night becasue of the MS, TBI. Trauma. and things I have gone thru the neuropsychiatrist said if you could remember your life you would be in a mental institution. What about my short term memory I asked. I have to have someone remind me to eat everyday. I write down what I do in book other wise I can't remember from one day to the next. I can't remember words. Everything has a name. Its called a "thinger". Spelling? Math? Huh? People places and things? Finally an having a psychometric test. More drugs? Aracept? I don't think so. So every day is a struggle. The book helps some what. The 2x a day reminders plus writing down everything I eat. Its not the way I pictured my life. Even my thoughts are scattered. Going from one subject to the other. My reading comprehension is shot out the window. I am due for another mri. Then I will know. I wish I scan disc & get rid of the bad sectors in my brain. Suggestions welcome
- —Guest Stephanie
sgram5@hotmail.com
- Ahh, now I know I'm ok. Reading all of your responses tells me I'm not crazy. I too find myself losing many things and not able to find. But I have to just stop and remember what I was doing when I had it last. Just went through this today, with a piece of mail, I had put "away" It stops me in my tracks, and can get instantly confused. So I have to re-trace my steps to find where I had it last. Also had to help my husband find his keys, he doesn't have MS !! So the whole day was wasted trying to find Stuff!!!!! It is exhausting to say the least. I think this is where that deep cleansing breath come into the picture. I just wish there was a pill for getting organized. It's such a struggle to act as if, all the time. Think Spring my friends.
- —Guest Sue G.
Take A Deep Cleansing Breath...Sue
- That made me laugh.what a wonderful friend you have.to have that understanding of such a personal and silent ailment is unique.thats a blessing for us all to kinow that we are not alone in our trials that come with the hidious disease that is MS at the unseen ailments it brings that we fight within ourselves silently that others no not of and hope that they never face themselves.tho i feel its a way of nature saying slow down look at where you are in life,you need to stop putting your time and energy into others who are not worthy of your time or love.thats were this disease draws the line and says its time you started to put yourself first and live the way you know you want to live it and just be who and were you want to be and live your life in your time and get the most out of the things that really matter to you the most.scrap the trival matters,the things in life or peoples ignorance we cannot change.the change starts within ourselves.live and let live attitude is the answer.
- —Guest Anne
Cog Tips
- infoselect is a random relational database - EVERY item entered is a search term making it much easier to find what you are looking for - GREAT for us inveterate note takers
- —guerre2
Take a deep cleansing breath
- When you are having a frustrating day or moment..........a friend of mine told me to take a deep cleansing breath and picture yourself as a tree. While seeing yourself as this tree know that all the "crap" you are dealing with is fertilizer spreading around the tree and making you grow!!
- —Guest Sue
Outlook
- I use the calendar on Outlook for all my appointments and the task manager for my things to do. I can tell it when to remind me about something, then when it pops up I can either do it or "snooze" it until later.
- —Guest nitalew
Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test
- I try not to be defined by my PASAT results. These will depress any MS patient.
- —Guest dave78
Mr
- Start playing bridge on the net - that keeps your brain active.
- —Guest Lennart
Remembering Meds and other things
- I keep a small note pad beside my meds holder and note the time with the date every time I take a pill. That way I can see whether I took a certain med, when, and if another is due. I also keep a calendar with every appointment on it and a list of things I need to do and on what day, such as going to a certain store, buying plants, groceries. I keep paper near me to write down any idea or plan I've gotten so I will remember it a few minutes later. Then try to look at it and do the task. Sometimes taking a refreshing shower perks me up.
- —Guest reaben
Cognitive helpers
- Wow the hospital tried to convince me that all of the above issues i was suffering were something and nothing. More the nothing!!! i now know if you want me to do something or remember something it has to be written down or texted to me to for me to remember. However i am looking for some tips on how to find something i have just put away safely ten minutes ago????
- —Guest Bindi
1-15 of 42Next
