As you must well know, schizophrenia is a serious mental illness, one of the most disabling mental illnesses there are and there’s no known cure. Are those your only symptoms? Forgetting things isn’t necessarily a sign of schizophrenia, for example I lost a lot of my ability to remember things after a particularly stressful move. Schizophrenia can cause memory problems but here are some other causes. This is from ChatGPT:
I’m 30
At 30 years old, increasingly poor memory is less likely to be caused by dementia than it would be in someone much older. More common causes include:
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Lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep
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Stress or anxiety
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Depression
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Being overloaded with information or multitasking constantly
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Certain medications (including some sleep aids, allergy medications, and anti-anxiety medications)
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Alcohol or recreational drug use
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Vitamin deficiencies (especially B12)
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Thyroid problems
If you’re forgetting things like recent customer orders, ask yourself:
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Has this been getting worse over weeks or months?
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Are you sleeping 7–9 hours regularly?
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Are you under unusual stress?
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Are you also forgetting conversations, appointments, or things people just told you?
You should consider seeing a healthcare professional if:
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The memory problems are clearly worsening.
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They interfere with work or daily life.
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Other symptoms are present, such as confusion, personality changes, trouble finding words, headaches, weakness, or balance problems.
How long has the memory problem been getting worse—weeks, months, or years? And are you forgetting other recent information besides customer orders?
Once you’re on medication it can take awhile for you to feel any improvement. How long have you been taking it? I researched rexulti a little bit and it says within a couple of days you may feel calmer and sleep better but for symptoms like hallucinations, delusions and disorganized thinking you may not see results for 4-6 weeks. Yoga may not get rid of your problems but regular exercise is good for your mental health. What other symptoms are you experiencing and how long have you been experiencing them? Are you really sure that you are becoming schizophrenic?
how to improve memory
If you have schizophrenia and are noticing memory problems, these approaches can help:
1. Get Consistent Sleep
Sleep is one of the biggest factors affecting memory. Aim for 7–9 hours per night and try to keep a regular sleep schedule.
2. Take Medications as Prescribed
Since you mentioned recently starting Rexulti, give it time to work. Improvement in thinking and concentration can take several weeks. If you think a medication is making your memory worse, discuss it with your prescriber rather than stopping it on your own.
3. Exercise
Regular walking or other exercise can improve attention, thinking speed, and memory. Even 20–30 minutes most days can help.
4. Use Memory Aids
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Write things down immediately.
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Use your phone’s calendar and reminders.
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Keep important items in the same place.
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Make checklists for tasks.
5. Focus on One Thing at a Time
Multitasking makes memory worse for most people. When taking an order, conversation, or instruction, try to give it your full attention.
6. Keep Your Brain Active
Reading, learning new skills, puzzles, and social interaction can help keep your mind engaged.
7. Eat a Balanced Diet
Make sure you’re getting enough protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Deficiencies in nutrients such as vitamin B12 can contribute to memory problems.
8. Manage Stress
High stress and anxiety can make it feel like your memory is failing when the main issue is difficulty concentrating.
Since you’re 30, a good question is whether the memory problem has always been part of your schizophrenia or whether it has gotten noticeably worse recently. If it’s getting worse, tell your psychiatrist, especially since you’ve recently started Rexulti. They can help determine whether it’s related to symptoms, medication effects, sleep, or another cause.