Memory

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I remember things through my own eyes, from my own POV. I don't feel the emotions connected to a scene (unless I can relive the memory flashback style). I can remember factually what I felt and what I experienced internally but it is not something I can feel again just by recalling the incident.

I store memories by association, not by linear time. I associate similar experiences or I associate memories that fall under a certain category. If I remember things that happened in a particular job, it is hard for me to figure out what non-job memories correspond to the same time frame. A category could be something like "conversations with person x" and I remember them almost as if it was just one long conversation, not several different ones that happened over time. When I am involved in an activity it brings up all my other memories of that activity by association, so it feels almost like one continuous "forever" experience.

My memory is horrible. And when i do remember things it's usually lost on me when or where it happened. I seem to be 'blind' to details and time and place fall under that catagory. Trying to write a resume is impossible for me, I can remember where i worked and what I did and a few people I worked with but when it happened is totally lost to me.

I have massive faceblindness too that really messes memory up as well, I can't stand how often people come up to me and talk to me obviously knowing who I am and I don't have a clue who they are. And I feel aweful about that so i try to fake it, but I'm sure it comes out as dismissive and probably snobish.

I seem to remember things if they were significant and dismiss the trivial pretty much before it even registers in my head, causing trouble with present moment time unless I commit myself to hyperfocus.

But I think a lot of my memory problems and dismisveness to detail is due to years of abuse that I've lived under, I think it's altered me beyond how I would have been otherwise.

when I do have a memory it's more of an out of body experience but most of the time I still don't see myself even though I'm not seeing it from being in myself, if that makes sense.

But again, i have dissassociation issues due to the abuse so my answer is probably not relevant at all.

I have pretty good long term memory but rubbish short term.....anyone else like this?

I can't remember times and birthdays or names linked with faces very well either....it took me years to learn the names of everyone in my year.

My rote memory is good, and I'm brilliant at remembering facts and figures. When I talk to myself, I'm lecturing someone whose not there on a particular topic, which obviously improves my own memory on it. When NT's say "remember the good times", I can, but more often it is the bad and embarrassing ones I remember and they keep me up at night. There's a really good article Asperger's and Memory here:

The Aspie Memory

I have typical Aspie memory. I have an encyclopedic memory for facts, I am a very visual thinker, and despite my exceptional long-term memory, I have extremely poor short-term/working memory, especially when it's auditory working memory. Words go in one ear and out the other for me. My mom gets frustrated at times, because it's still hard for her to comprehend how I have extraordinary long-term memory but can't remember something she asks me to do five minutes after she asks. It IS pretty mind-boggling.

I highly disagree with that article in the post above mine. I am a whiz at remembering birthdays, dates, and lists. Most special interests DO compose of these facts, so aren't most Aspies geared towards this type of detail? I see birthdays, dates, and lists visually in my mind, as well, so this is why I've always had a phenomenal memory for this type of material.

OddDuck, that's an excellent quote in your sig line.