I have a few of the aforementioned causes of memory loss: Dissociative disorder and trauma. I also have ADHD and Autism, all undiagnosed until i was 18.
Life didn’t stop after this development— Damn, it hadn’t even started yet. I was like 7 when i started having problems, and it was a rough ride until i finally got to know what was up 11 years later.
In my case, it is working towards a state of functional multiplicity (getting alters to communicate and operate together. We aren’t amazing at it yet, but we make do.) It’s writing my strawberry allergy on the fridge so I know not to consume anything with strawberry in it when I don’t even know my own name. It’s keeping peanut butter, a knife, and bread out on my table so I know there’s at least one thing to eat that is practically muscle memory. It’s having a support network both online and in person (i know, im lucky here) that checks in on me and asks me about my repetitive chores (bills, med pickups, therapy, if I’ve been outside).
It’s not perfect, but i have managed to live alone for 2 years now. I have supported protests and kept doing what I cared about. I have hobbies.
Yes, there are things I personally can’t do— I can’t do traditional jobs anymore because i had several traumatic incidents on site over the 4 years i worked, causing dissociative splits that got me a reputation at work I couldn’t come back from.
But, I can still help my community. I can still enjoy the sun and wind on my body, and i can still use my college certificate in IT to keep up with and speak about the changing technology around us.
I’m more me than ive ever been before, memory loss be damned. I still have so much life to live, and so does everyone else, whatever that looks like for them.
You can do hard things. I love you. Drink water and brush your teeth if you haven’t in a while, I just remembered I need to do both.