I have to write things down too. I'm not so bad right now but when the stress builds I get very abscent minded. Back before my mother died and she was sick and I was taking care of her and my father I couldn't remember anything. I kept a little notebook where I would write down things I had to do daily plus I kept a pocket calendar to write down all my appointments (there doctor visits mostly). I even would tape notes to the garage door with a list of everything I needed to take with me each day. It really helped.

Currently I'm only about half as bad but if I don't make lists of things to take with me to Dad's or things to be done or I will totally forget.

I never had this problem in school or when I worked full time, just since I started caring for my parents. It's caused by stress!