Psychiatry: Improving The Memory

Some people think psychiatry is all about fixing mental health problems and prescribing medication. While there is a large portion of the field dedicated to just that, there are plenty of other aspects to the field as well. One interesting aspect includes trying to improve the human mind’s ability to remember things. This course of study is especially interesting to those whose jobs require them to retain a great deal of information or, of course, students who must retain information in order to pass tests. Here are some of the simplest ways to begin improving your memory today.

Psychiatry experts say there is simply no substitute for attention. Though not recommended for off-label use, this is why drugs such as Adderall have become so popular on college campuses. The ability to pay attention and stay focused for a long time is very valuable in any endeavor which requires committing things to memory. Since you probably don’t want to add a prescription drug addiction to your woes, it’s important to take natural steps to improve your concentration. This includes studying in places free of distractions. Unplug the internet, if necessary. Turn off the music and the TV. Shut the door.

There is a lot of psychiatry research that says cramming is one of the worst ways to remember a great deal of material. The human mind is much more adapt at learning facts over a longer period of time. It sees these repeated sessions and it realizes this is important information that will continue to come up. While cramming has its benefits, it should only be used as a last resort.

In order to commit things to memory, you have to go beyond rote repetition. While this may work in small doses, you are going to be far better off coming up with some easy to use mnemonic devices to help you remember the material. This is especially true if trying to remember dense facts such as dates and times or material that you are utterly unfamiliar with. If you can relate each fact to something you are familiar with, you’ll find it that much easier to recall it when the time is right.

Psychiatry is a field dedicated not only to solving the mysteries of mental illness, but unlocking the mind’s true potential. Use these memorization tips the next time you’re faced with the task of remembering a lot of material and see if they don’t help improve your powers of recall.