Anxious about sudden memory loss while driving

[MammaOf3]

Hello

A weird thing happened to me yesterday. I was driving with my daughter in the car on a very familiar route (I drive it about 3 times per week). As I was approaching a familiar intersection, for a split second I didn’t know where I was. I looked around and immediately I remembered where I was and continued the journey but it kind of freaked me out because it was so weird.

I’m 40 years old, healthy, very active and have no issues with memory. I have 3 kids so sometimes I have too much going on and tend to occasionally forget stuff but I think it’s normal. There is no history of dementia or Alzheimer’s in the family.

I suffered from anxiety a couple of years ago and this incident has been on my mind since it happened. I tend to overthink things and worry too much so I don’t really want to end up anxious because of what happened yesterday.

Has anyone experienced anything like this before? Does it look like I was just day dreaming and distracted? Or could there by anything else going on? I don’t really want to go to the doctors as I doubt they would do much, but I would like to put my mind in ease.

Thanks for reading this.

[Croix]

Dear MammaOf3~

I've been driving in the same town for over 20 years and occasionally find myself in your situation, at an intersection and momentarily disoriented. It does not last more than a few moments.

I asked my psychiatrist about the condition of my memory, he said in my case it was something that can happen with my anxiety conditon but had me tested anyway for peace of mind. Everything was fine.

I'm no doctor so could not say what it is with you, I guess in your situation I might get things checked out for the same reason, peace of mind.

It may be a hassle, but can ease the mind, one worry less, which is always a good idea.

Croix

[MammaOf3]

Thanks for your reply. I'm kind of glad to hear that it has also happened to you and I am glad that your tests turned out okay. Sorry to hear you suffer from anxiety though.

I have only suffered one anxiety attack a couple of years ago but I get pretty stressed and anxious in general. I doubt that it is the reason for what happened though. I was also very tired when I was driving so I am not sure whether it has something to do with it.

I might mention it to my doctor next time I go and see him though.

[Harpbird]

I have had the same thing happened a couple of times.

i was really confused and had no idea where I was . Only for a minute.

my dr said it can happen when your thinking deeply about something. He said it doesn’t make you a danger on the rd, you just get caught up in your thoughts.

[MammaOf3]

Thanks for your response. This is really reassuring. I think/hope that was the case with me. I was really tired and not paying attention, I was just on autopilot. I will raise it with the doctor when I got there next though, just in case he thinks something should be done about it.