Is it normal that my brain can't memorize what i've learned?

Learning, for me, is like trying to grab liquid. It just slips through my mind easily even though I am actively trying to learn something, like watching a video on how to do basic home maintenance or watching how a guy perfectly restores antiques or old machinery as he describes what he uses to perform such tasks.

Yet, my mind and brain cannot seem to just make what I've learned, stick. They always fall away hours after I've watched the videos. This is why most of the time, I just feel dumb or stupid, even though I am trying to learn something.

What am I dealing with?

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82% Normal
Based on 17 votes (14 yes)
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Comments ( 10 )
  • Nikclaire

    It can you just have to learn to meditate like batman does. That's how I learned. Watch the Dark Knight series

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  • FromTheSouthWeirdMan

    I have the same problem. I had a hard time in school. Can you remember stuff better that interests you? When something interests me it's easier to learn!

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  • Aethylfritha

    Maybe you have ADHD or a form of it. Ive had it for years and only recently got diagnosed. Many people dont have the hyperactivity part as much as the short term memory/ distraction part. Just a thought.

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  • controversy

    Take Adderall or Ritalin.

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  • libertybell

    (not the op)I cannot even remember things that interest me. I'll learn something that fascinates me, and I'll only remember about half of it. It so frustrates me, because I want to remember it, so I can think about it later. It's like the information falls out of my brain.

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  • Meowypowers

    You are hardly dumb, and are a good writer.

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  • Fugazi,again

    Just watch a video, read a book or whatever with no intention of trying yo memorize it. If you find it hard to concentrate, dont force it. I sometimes be reading and feel like I haven't paid attention at all, so I go back to the previous page to read it again and then realise I do remember every word. I used to never write anything down in school but somehow the knowledge was just there in my brain when it came to exams.

    Think of something you have a good knowledge of, like a hobby or something that you are interested in and think about how you gained thqt knowledge and maybe it will help you find the right way of learning for you.

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  • notsaying4life

    Try to understand what you’re learning into details rather than just memorizing it it really really helps and also practice makes man perfect so continuous learning will soon make you a master in learning and you’ll soon grab content much faster and easier so be a bit patient maybe you haven’t gotten to that stage yet

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  • leggs91200

    If something is boring it is going to be harder, if not impossible, to learn.
    When something bores us, our brains basically shut down.

    I remember in school having to read social studies crap and would get to the end of a page or even paragraph and have NO clue what I just read.

    Of course today when kids are unable to learn bullshit that is boring to tears, they say the kid has a learning or attention disorder.
    No, that is not it. It is because some things just bore people.

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  • geek_god_101

    It may be relevant to the method of you learning OP. You may not be a visual or auditory learner. You could be a hands on (kinesthetic) learner. A doer.

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