What you are describing is something called "Verbal fluency," and it more often than not shows up as what is known as "tip-of-the-tongue" phenomenon. As the phrase, and you described, the word, even though it is a simple one you have used all your life, is on the tip of your tongue and try as you might, it simply will not come out. The way to deal with it.... well you are already doing one of the best things - get it out in the open and discuss it with others who are in the same boat. That way we can all forget what the problem is together. No, the idea is to compare notes and strategies on how others deal/cope with the problem. By so doing, you realize you are not alone in this, and knowing that helps you calm down a little and relax. Again, sharing with those you are talking with, also removes the angst, and thus the stress. Sometimes, this act alone will produce the word you are looking for. If not? Let it go and it will pop up later..... like 2 in the morning.

MSDave

One thing I forgot, in all of this, there is no competition; no "well my cognition is worse than your's," or "I have dealt with this longer than you, so I know better...." We are all on the same ship, going the same direction. This ship is a working one, and as such, it takes all of us working together to make the ship head into calmer waters.. Hmmmm Not bad for an guy who wasn't in the Navy. (I was in the Army, a much better... op's, bragging.

Dave, I was an RN before all this MS thing came along. I guess my favorite thing about being an RN was to educate. So I don't mind at all tellling whoever I am talking to that my inability to find my words is due to MS. Usually when I tell them waht word comes to my brain and what the concept is we will work it out. This may be a salesperson, or the drywaller that is doing my family room right now. I definetely am not one to keep my MS a secret. It is my duty to educate people about MS. I know what misconception I had about it when I was first told I had it.

Also my level of frustration, fatigue. noise level, etc really affects this mind fog. I just call it sensory overload. I can go back to reading posts for ,say six weeks ago when I was so frustrated with our contractor. My posts were short and not a whole lot of insight available to my brain. I am now relaxed and I think better.