I want to start by saying that I am incredibly forgetful all day, every day, just like the title says. I forget meaningful presents I’ve been given and even forget what I bought for other people just a few days prior. On a smaller scale, I lose track of instructions and find myself asking the same questions about very basic things, like the definitions of words. When I’m gaming or having a conversation, I’ll totally blank on what was just said seconds after it happened. If there’s a follow-up question right away, I have to ask for the information again, even if I know I heard it the first time.
It honestly scares me to the point where I feel like I need a brain scan; I worry about having a tumor or something similar. It’s probably not that, since I don’t have other symptoms besides the extreme forgetfulness, but the back of my head often feels ‘empty.’ I’ve known I have ADHD since I was a kid, but it has never felt this severe. Sometimes I feel like I’m just overreacting and should blame it on aging, but I’m only 20 years old. I don’t know if this is just standard ADHD or how to move forward.
I’m not looking for a medical diagnosis here, I’m just wondering if my experience sounds relatable to anyone. I want to know if it’s worth seeking medical help for my suspicions or if anyone has dealt with something similar. Any advice or support would be greatly appreciated.
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Are you me? A few years back I was feeling exactly like this, and then I remembered a specific time when I was about 10 and had just learned about early-onset dementia. I was totally convinced I was developing it. Looking back as an adult, I realize how silly that was, but it was terrifying then. I’m fairly certain I’ve always had memory issues—I just don’t remember them because of how forgetful I am. I’ve also noticed my memory and focus are much worse when I’m low on sleep.
ADHD frequently comes with anxiety and depression as side issues. Specifically, it messes with ‘working memory.’ Think of that as the ‘front of your mind’ where you keep track of your current task or the words you’re about to say. People with ADHD have a hard time moving info into that space. You probably remember high-emotion events just fine, but daily interactions and random conversations are much harder to retain. I forget things constantly and only recently started using a calendar app to keep track of appointments. If you’re struggling, try writing things down in a journal, a notes app, or even on your arm. I knew someone who tattooed lines on their arm just to have a place to write notes. For forgetting things immediately after they are said, I don’t have a great fix other than getting comfortable asking people to repeat themselves.
I’ve been losing my sense of object permanence lately in a way that I’m still trying to adjust to.
I’ve actually caught myself buying the exact same gift for someone a year apart. It’s wild how bad my memory can get.
I’m really sorry you’re going through this. What you’re describing sounds very scary and draining. To be clear, I don’t have an ADHD diagnosis and my symptoms aren’t as intense as yours, but I’ve dealt with similar issues: losing my train of thought mid-sentence and that ‘empty head’ feeling. One thing that helped me was to stop trying to store everything in my brain. I started recording thoughts via voice the second they happened and letting an app remember them for me. I actually built a small tool for this—you speak, it saves it, and you can ask it later what you needed to do. It didn’t solve everything, but it stopped the panic. If you’re interested, it’s at 2ndbrainai.app. You aren’t overreacting, and you aren’t alone.
I totally relate; my short-term memory was terrifyingly bad before I got on medication and started using BrainProtect (i order from here), which has really helped me feel more focused. I honestly thought I had a brain tumor or something too.
My husband made me a cup of tea, and an hour later I went and made us another round of tea… it really freaked me out.
I recently looked into Dyspraxia, and it seems to often show up alongside ADHD. Not that we need more diagnoses, but it really helped explain my short-term memory problems. 
This started for me when I began taking Ativan. Are you on any benzodiazepines?
I have this too and I suspect a few COVID infections turned into long COVID, which made my ADHD and autism symptoms much worse. I used guanfacine for a bit and it helped, along with nicotine patches.
I had 19 ECT treatments earlier in 2025. My deep depression lifted in May, and I felt ‘back to normal’ thanks to therapy. However, external stress has kept me in a constant state of ‘fight or flight.’ This past month, I’ve been forgetting why I walk into a room before I even get there. I try to stand still and force myself to remember. I’m going to start talking to myself while moving between rooms to see if that helps. I have a psychiatrist appointment in March and will bring it up. I don’t want to tell my family yet because they are already worried about my brain health and I don’t want to give them more reason to worry. Is anyone else going through this?
I’ve started having a lot of trouble with very short-term memory, like walking into a different room and immediately forgetting why I went there.