Hyperthymesia is an amazing condition, people have incredible memories. They can remember exactly what happened each day back as long as 30 years.
You tell them which day and they remember it in extreme detail. What they did, what day of the week it was, amazing.
Scientists still have no clue how this is possible.
Hyperthymesia is super memory syndrome.
There is one 40 year old woman who can remember any day since 1974. I don't know about you but that is incredible.
I have trouble remembering a month ago.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Hyperthymesia - Super Memory Syndrome
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7 comments:
I'm not one of the 3 confirmed cases; but, I do have Hyperthymesia. Incredible, maybe. To me, it's mind clutter. It's been very troubling as I remember more about my friends than they do, and I'm always talking about things they don't remember, although it's as clear as day to me today, as if it were yesterday. So, it has interfered with my social interactions with people. I finally clued in last summer that I'm not normal, that there's something very different with the way my mind works.
I'm concerned as my ability to remember grows stronger each year and I don't know why this is happening to me.
I am sure I have this!! I remember as far back as 43 years ago.. I also remember a date and the day in 1977 that we shifted house. I remember a lot of things that others in my family dont. I was starting to wonder why they did not remember them too. I cannot be told a year and the date and know what day it was, (unless something specific happened on that day)but, I do not need a phone book, all phone numbers are all in my memory. Including ones dated back 30 years ago.I remember medicare card number, my licence number, all important mobile numbers that I have used. I too, had trouble concentrating at school, my life is like a constant flashback. I never knew I was different, I am so pleased I finally know something about this, without starting to think that maybe things just did not happen, because nobody else remembered them. Another example is my Auntie used to have a dog, over 30 years ago, nobody remembered this,, I asked someone close to her, and yes she did used to have a dog. Glad I finally no I am not going nuts, thanks to whomever found this out...
I have this too. I figured it out when a friend of mine, who's a grad student in psychology, gave me a questionnaire to fill out about childhood memories. The first question was "what is the very first memory you can recall?" My answer turned out to be before I was even 1 yrs old (I confirmed this with my mom).
Its, as many things are in life, a really useful tool and a pain in the ass. I remember unnecessary things and sometimes there are situations in your life that are not healthy to have memories of every detail.
Mix this ability with an ugly childhood and the drawbacks are obvious. Ive had to learn how to view situations in life differently than most. I have no choice because, with the slightest reminder or sometimes for no reason at all...random days or conversations replay in my head over and over and over again like its on a movie screen. Moments of peace are few and far between.
One doctor gave me medicine for adhd and it helped out a little (i stress the word little). I feel like it half ways dumbs me down but sometimes its the only relief. Its not that it stops the memories but instead of have 4 or 5 going on at once, I'll only have one or two...giving me the chance to focus on what is going on in the actual moment.
On the upside...dreams are always elaborate and extremely interesting! And, Ill never be the one to forget a birthday or anniversary! oh, and music lyrics...never ever ever go away (this can be good or bad depending on what the song reminds me of).
I'm only 23 years old...I can only wonder what its going to be like with 50 years of memory.
I hesitate to write and admit that I am abnormal. After years of books to figure out "why", It is good to know. I Think that many folks without the syndrome do not realize how debilitating it is to feel and relive all the emotion associated with the memories.It remains a battle to make this a gift for our use and not a depressing liability. I am nearly 60 and still trying to find the "why".
Ginger Parks
I am a 25 year old female, I can recall vividly, from the age of two on up as if I were reliving the experience.
I can describe the weather, hear my thoughts of the time, my entire conversations with people. I can remember each period of my life when my conciseness was raised, I remember and feel any shame I experienced through out my life. I can tell you who, what, where, when and why.
I can also remember infant memories from nine months but only as far as my own thoughts and perceptions and my mothers interactions with me, toys that I held, my little finger nails.... I never even heard of this hyperthymesia before. My whole life, people have been astonished and my ability to remember everything... I had no idea.
I just thought I was overly sensitive to people and events. Every encounter holds high impact, because every encounter is replayed in my mind constantly. It's very hard to let go of any wrongdoings, or hurtful experiences with any one because I literally experience every sense that I went through at the time, Visual, auditory, smell, touch.. my emotions are strong in feeling. I can feel anger from when I was two years old like it just happened and it can make me upset if I don't detach my present self from my past memories. Its very hard to carry on normal relationships because I never forget anything. People do messed up things and they don't even realize or remember that it happened and yet I am constantly reminded. It is very hard to move forward or be completely in the present.
But not all is a negative. I am able to keep bonds with people I haven't seen in years because to me the past is constant.
I remember things I learned in grade school. I remember everything!!
I even remember any stories or personal experiences any one has ever TOLD me. I catch myself correcting people when I hear them down the road telling the same story to some one else but with the blanks filled in slightly differently than how they told it to me!!! My Mother used to get so mad at me. I would interrupt her and be like No Mommy, when you were in 7th grade you were mad because "blah blah blah" NOT bc you forgot your lunch. and She would say "excuse me? I know what I am saying, it happened to ME." and I would say, "well you must have lied to me then, because that is what you said."
haha wow.
Funny thing.
I think I may possess this ability, or at least am on the spectrum of this "disorder". I can remumber practically any days since I am 16 and if one give me a date there is a very great chance that I can tell at least one thing I've done or thought this day. But I think it's more a question of routine than real capabilities ; as I both like numbers and recall and reflect on the past.
I think that, like many conditions, there are the pros and the cons. I can say that my ability to recall and reflect on the past has allowed me to have a good capacity on learning from mistakes, experiences and conversations.
But on the other hand I can never forget an offense, which make me a big grudge-holder and resulting in a difficulty in maintening friendships.
Well finally I think that I like having somewhat of a mental autobiography.
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Hyperthymesia
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