NO memory and concentration

[neverforget]

Hi, firstly i'd like to apologise for the length of this message.

I am 24 years old. My memory has always been quite bad and I am famous for loosing things, but recently it has become a bigger problem. My memory and my concentration is severely effecting my personal, social and professional life. I think it has been the same for quite a while, but I am noticing more as I am not working solidly on one thing for a length of time like I was at university. It has even started to effect simple conversations with friends. I find I cannot articulate myself and draw out simple information. And recently when ever I seem to drink any alcohol this seems to get worse
The strange thing is that it ranges from things i have spent a lot of time learning and understanding to new information I take in on a daily basis, so I think it is my long-term and short-term memory.

Here are some examples.
School- I was always very good at history and english very much enjoyed it. Now I can barely remember a thing from it! No dates, a few vague names but no concise information.
Learning languages- I tried so so hard at school, and again a few years ago to learn languages but I literally would forget things the second i would finish saying them.
Names of things I studied for years and processes I repeatedly did I just cannot remember.
-I often cannot even bring up a list of films that I like or an artist that has influenced me, places I have travelled to.
-I seem to understand things whilst being explained them or reading or learning about them then a few days or even hours later it has gone.
-The thing that worries me is that i cannot pin point one particular area or learning technique that hasn't or doesn't work for me- it seems to be generally over everything.

Concentration and organisation

Often whilst really trying to read or learn about something or when asked directly to supply a piece of information I get this blank fog cloud over and nothing seems to enter my mind but blank space. I end up repeating and re-reading a sentence for sometimes an hour. I understand distraction is a factor here but i have tried doing this in various environments and often not under any stress and it still happens.

My mind often seems like a massive sponge- information comes in from all angles and I never seem to process it properly. I feel myself suddenly thinking about everything. For example- all the things I want to learn, the daily list of thing to do, seems to build up and I think about everything all at once and it bubbles up and I panic.

I always try to be organised but i can never seem to decide on best way of organising something. even with writing something. I will begin in a certain format then change 3/4 times throughout.
I am renowned for loosing things and 'leaving a trail behind me' Even when I try really really hard not to, it still happens.
I have always been extremely bad at spelling, and still as an adult repeatedly spell the same word incorrect.
I am starting to think that perhaps I am just not very intelligent but when I am working on a subject and understand a lot about it i have interesting views, ideas and perspectives on things and often have a good ability to see the bigger picture unfolding in scenarios.
I don't want to seem like a hypochondriac and i'm sure a lot of these problems are just bad habits and laziness, but it has been bothering me for a while and it is worrying me. I don't even know who I should refer to for help or advise.

I have been thinking alot about how my lifestyle may effect this.

I became extremely stressed whilst finishing my degree and have often worked in stressful environments since.
I have studied in a creative environment since i was 17.
I do have any routine as I work freelance, every job is different and hours are often long or short or unsociable.
I do not always drink enough water or exercise
I always try and do too much.
My grandmother has Alzheimers, and my mother is also quite 'scatty'
I get panic attacks and migraines
thanks