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Memory and concentration problems are quite common following a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage. You may find it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time and this may make even simple tasks, such as reading a book or making a cup of tea, difficult and frustrating. Try to break tasks down into small steps so that you only have to concentrate for short periods of time before taking a rest.

After a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage, some aspects of your memory may be affected. You may not remember very much about the haemorrhage itself and what happened when you were admitted to hospital. You may find that you can remember things that happened to you a few years ago, but find it difficult to remember new information, for example the name of a person you have just met or a new telephone number. Many people find that their memory improves with time, although it may not be quite as good as it was before the haemorrhage.

You can ask your GP or neurologist to arrange for you to see a psychologist who can carry out a neuropsychological assessment. Typically, this will involve doing a number of different tests to assess what specific problems you are experiencing. Here are some strategies that you can try to see if they help you to remember things:

• Keep a book or diary where you write down all the important things you need to remember. Try to keep it in the same place, for example by the
  telephone.
• Write phone numbers, names of people etc. down on a piece of paper as soon as you can. ‘Post-it’ notes in bright colours can be really useful memory aids as you can stick them everywhere.
• Pictures are often easier to remember than abstract facts. For example, if you meet someone called Anne Fisher you might think of Princess Anne and imagine the person you met wearing a crown fishing by a river bank. The more bizarre the picture the easier it will be to remember.
• Try not to get too anxious or stressed as this will make it more difficult to remember information. If you do become anxious, take some deep breaths, breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth.
• Use an alarm clock to help you to remember to do something like make a phone call or go to an appointment.