Does depression affect your memory?

[cardfan1]

Is anyone's memory affected by depression? especially short-term memory? I can still remember facts and figures, but I have to try harder. Mostly I just can't remember feelings. Like the nostalgia you get when you remember a fond childhood memory. I can remember the events, but i don't remember the feelings. A lot of things are just fuzzy.

 

[AWorkInProgress]

Is anyone's memory affected by depression? especially short-term memory? I can still remember facts and figures, but I have to try harder. Mostly I just can't remember feelings. Like the nostalgia you get when you remember a fond childhood memory. I can remember the events, but i don't remember the feelings. A lot of things are just fuzzy.

I'll let someone else ring in. My memory always been in a blender.

 

[Jeshu]

Is anyone's memory affected by depression? especially short-term memory? I can still remember facts and figures, but I have to try harder. Mostly I just can't remember feelings. Like the nostalgia you get when you remember a fond childhood memory. I can remember the events, but i don't remember the feelings. A lot of things are just fuzzy.

It isn't memory that I lost, apart of through ECT, but otherwise like you the feeling of the memory isn't any longer available. Like certain memories used to bring on goose bumps (the nice way) I never get that no more. Indeed depression 'kills'/suppresses good feelings.

I hope that your depression may lift soon.

 

[GryffinSong]

Yes, definately. Many, many people don't experience depression as a feeling of sadness. They experience it as a loss of feeling. Hugs to you, and I hope you find a way back to yourself. ((()))

 

[Sophrosyne]

Although I don't recall but once in my life being severely depressed I do know that stress and shock combined with depression can effect short term memory. I tend to have a decent memory but at times if my mind is focusing (stressed) on things that are a product of depression (or perhaps even the reason) I pay less attention to what is going on.

 

[GryffinSong]

By the way, I take antidepressants and there are days when I fear I'm going senile. It could be the depression itself, or it could be my meds. But I don't feel as sharp as I used to. Since my dad is VERY senile, it scares me to death, but I know, logically, that it's probably nothing to worry about at my age.

 

[cardfan1]

Although I don't recall but once in my life being severely depressed I do know that stress and shock combined with depression can effect short term memory. I tend to have a decent memory but at times if my mind is focusing (stressed) on things that are a product of depression (or perhaps even the reason) I pay less attention to what is going on.

Perhaps I am just distracted with the depression/anxiety and I'm not paying attention as much to what it going on around me. However, I do have loss of feeling of past events. For example, I took a fishing trip last year and while I remember the events, I have a hard time remembering the thrill and excitement I had from being on that beautiful lake. Emotionally speaking, I can't really seem to find a comfort zone or 'happy place' if you will. and I'm scared those feelings will be lost for good.

 

[BeautifullyImperfect]

Lots of things are fuzzy for me... Like my days run together and I get confused between who I told something to and who I haven't told yet... I think they're finally learning to put up with my fuzzy memory, though. Sometimes it kinda seems to have a short in it, if you know what I mean. Sorta like I can almost remember, but then I completely lose it.

 

[fieldmouse3]

I've had trouble remembering things in the past, but I don't seem to have those problems anymore.

 

[mariachigirl]

I'm new to this section...

As far as memory, it does make sense to me how depression can affect memory. Depression can be very distracting.... what does everyone else think? Make sense?

 

[fushiarose]

Is anyone's memory affected by depression? especially short-term memory? I can still remember facts and figures, but I have to try harder. Mostly I just can't remember feelings. Like the nostalgia you get when you remember a fond childhood memory. I can remember the events, but i don't remember the feelings. A lot of things are just fuzzy.

My memory is hit and miss. Sometimes it is good. Other times, I really have to struggle to remember to do things. Feelings from childhood-I remember the negative ones more than the positive feelings from memories. Depression has hurt the positive feelings. Like swimming. I remember loving to go swimming but it really makes me kind of sad because I don't get a chance to ever do that anymore. It is the one exercise I would like.

 

[snowy27]

I think depression affects my memory in a few different ways. When I first started taking medication and may have been in a state of shock, I was forgetful but this has passed. I find that if I am extremely anxious about something I may forget about other things. But I guess that can happen to anyone. I think depression can distort one's memories. I have thought I had bad memories of particular events, then going back and looking at photos and video I realise how happy I looked. I would say in terms of memorisation my memory has improved since I have been back on medication for a year. Because the depression does not affect me so much I can concentrate much better and I would say my ability to memorise things is better too.

 

[cyberlizard]

depression and memory - i work in psychiatry and time and time again when I interview depressed patients they have trouble recalling events whilst depressed and for about a month before in any detail. Even when better, the recall of these events is poor.

In respect to ECT to court is out as to whether the ect causes the damage due to depression itself cuasing memory impairment. One thing we do on our unit when a person is having ECT is a batch of memory tests. In the UK, ECT is tightly regulated and you must fit very narrowly defined criteria to recieve it. Mostly the patients who have ECT are severly depressed, neither eating or drinking and in danger of dying. We also use it for people with very severe mania and psychotic features (but this does not happen often).

Steve

p.s. we need to be clear when discussing depression, that we clearly distinguish between low mood, cyclothymia, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, post natal blues and finally post natal depression. All are seperate issues which often get tied together if you don't dig deep enough.


May God bless you and keep you, make his face shine on you and give you His peace.

 

[cardfan1]

depression and memory - i work in psychiatry and time and time again when I interview depressed patients they have trouble recalling events whilst depressed and for about a month before in any detail. Even when better, the recall of these events is poor.

In respect to ECT to court is out as to whether the ect causes the damage due to depression itself cuasing memory impairment. One thing we do on our unit when a person is having ECT is a batch of memory tests. In the UK, ECT is tightly regulated and you must fit very narrowly defined criteria to recieve it. Mostly the patients who have ECT are severly depressed, neither eating or drinking and in danger of dying. We also use it for people with very severe mania and psychotic features (but this does not happen often).

Steve

p.s. we need to be clear when discussing depression, that we clearly distinguish between low mood, cyclothymia, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, post natal blues and finally post natal depression. All are seperate issues which often get tied together if you don't dig deep enough.


May God bless you and keep you, make his face shine on you and give you His peace.

Thanks for the info, Steve. As far as what type of depression I have, i'm not entirely sure, I'm still a little new to it all (about 4 months). I probably don't have the most severe, I can still go to work and such, but this isn't just a passing feeling either - know what i mean.

Also, I'm not really sure the terms you used are - cyclothymia? dysthymia? etc. Oh yeah, what is ECT?

I just know that i'm really tired of this and i seem to have trouble recalling events and emotions in detail for the last couple months. I really don't remember what it's like to not have this 'cloud' in my head.

Thanks for all the responses, and God bless!

 

[alex872]

Is anyone's memory affected by depression? especially short-term memory?

Recently I've had huge difficulties when I was reading. After having read one sentence, I forgot what I just read. I read it again... and forgot again. Besides I got easily distracted.

That happened on several days.

Blessings.

 

[CCGirl]

I have had significant short term memory loss over the past 6 years, since I was hospitalized the first time. Part of the problem was the massive amount of meds they had me on, but it still is an issue for me.

 

[Mrs. Enigma]

Some of my memories just disappear and I can't even access them. But other then that, my memory gets really bad when I am deressed, like I forget if I turned off the stove, or to buy something at the store etc etc. It also impairs my driving abilities.