I think I'm losing my memory.

[Aredhel]

I've had depression, SI, and anxiety problems my entire life, with progressively worsening symptoms. I am on medication and regularly visiting the mental health ward. I've always been absent minded, and my depression worsens this, however recently it's reached a new extreme.

I'm forgetting entire conversations, incidents, days, etc. I will just have big blank spots in my mind where i have no clue what has happened. My dad will call me up and ask me howw my weekend was and I will have to ask my mom because i will have no idea what I did, or even whether or not I was at home or with my friends. i am forgetting my relationships to people and I have been acting weirdly because I can't even remember who I'm friends with, who I talk to, etc, with the exception of my few closest friends and my bf.

Today I was on msn, and I told my friend that I was dying my hair black, to which he insisted that I had already told him afterschool. I have no recollection of that and even after several hours of thinking, I am thoroughly convinced that I have not so much as seen this friends face in over a week.

This whole thing is really scaring me, and it is interrferring with my day to day life, and my overall peace of mind. Is this sort of memory problem something that may come out of depression? Please help me, I am really frightened by all this.

 

[dbot]

I dont think such serious memory loss problems are indicative of depression. I never got that sort of thing. I have a bad memory, but I think thats just because I have a bad memory.

If your memory loss is this serious, I think you need to seek medical advice, because I've never even heard of that sort of thing happening to someone just because of depression.

 

[Ariella]

i've seen all sorts of reasons given for memory problems ..... even from being as simple as being dehydrated .........i have a bad memory a lot of the time as well and i know it can be scary as well as frustrating at times ..... but if you are feeling really worried then it would be a good idea to ask your dr about this if you can and hopefully s/he can help set your mind at ease -- i'll be praying for you for peace and for your memory to improve

 

[Aredhel]

Yeah, it's not even that I have a bad memory or am forgetful, it's that I have all these big blank spots in my memory where I don't know what happened. I'm forgetting people, things I've done and it's like...like nothing ever happened, and people will tell me what i did and I'll believe them, but I can never, for the life of me remember doing this stuff.
It's really scary, and I'm really confused about it.

 

[.chrys.]

Please, inform your doctor of this immediately. It doesn't sound like something that comes from depression....but...it might be something else that is actually causing your depression.

Get medical help as soon as possible. Oh, and if you drive, stop driving immediately. You might be having black outs and you'll be putting yourself in danger.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Do you find yourself daydreaming often?

 

[Aredhel]

yes, I daydream all the time, I'm a very imaginative person, but I've been that way my whole life, so I don't see how that would affect it.

 

[zaksmummy]

What you are experiencing is called dissociation. It happens when you become very, very anxious. Sort of like your brain seizes up for a time when its difficult to cope with things.

Catrin xx

 

[.chrys.]

What you are experiencing is called dissociation. It happens when you become very, very anxious. Sort of like your brain seizes up for a time when its difficult to cope with things.

Catrin xx

Oooh, if that's true (and in no way am I saying it isn't), then please, OP, do see a doctor about this--soon!

Be at ease!

 

[RuthD]

Yeah, it's not even that I have a bad memory or am forgetful, it's that I have all these big blank spots in my memory where I don't know what happened. I'm forgetting people, things I've done and it's like...like nothing ever happened, and people will tell me what i did and I'll believe them, but I can never, for the life of me remember doing this stuff.
It's really scary, and I'm really confused about it.

I can't remember hardly anything I do right after I do it. I can't remember what day it is everyday. I have to look on my computer for the date and day. I take a lot of medicines for psychological problems. I believe that memory problems are a part of depression, too. I can't say what mine are from because it can be a result of the meds..too. I think talking to your doctor about it will help more than me.

 

[zaksmummy]

If you have been on medication for a long period of time, or on several medications, they could be interacting in a negative way with your brain chemistry, causing the memory loss. Personally, I suggest getting off of all drugs, prescribed or otherwise, or at the very least, see your psychiatrist and find a drug combination that does not cause memory loss.

Personally, I feel this is not a mental condition but a spiritual condition. Satan is always trying to hurt us, and this is just another way he has tried to hurt you. But in the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke the evil spirit which is causing this problem in your life. Be freed from your torments.

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.
Mat 17:14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying,
Mat 17:15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
Mat 17:16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Mat 17:17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
Mat 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

I would also recommend prayer and fasting to help your condition. Believe, and do not doubt. You will be healed, in Jesus' name.

What ever you do, dont stop your medication suddenly, you will experience withdrawal symptoms which can be quite difficult to deal with. If you do decide that this is what you want to do, talk to your psychiatrist and sort out a withdrawal regime.

Personally I dont think your problems are spiritual. From the limited information you gave, you hinted that you suffered from depression and anxiety. These are not spiritual problems but mental health problems which need to be dealt.

The reason I'm saying this is that my mum has suffered from depression for much of her adult life. She says she had always assumed that what she was going through was a spiritual problem. Many christians cannot understand depression unless they link it with a spiritual problem. She eventually accepted that it was a mental health problem, relating to her early childhood experiences and then began the task of learning to deal with her depression.

A verse she often used to quote was Romans 12v2 "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed be the renewing of your mind" She takes this to mean that recovery from depression is a process, not a quick fix.

Catrin xx

 

[zaksmummy]

..

 

[Aredhel]

A lot of good insight here, thanks.
Yeah, I looked in to my medication, none of it would be the reason for this. I'm gonna go see the therapist tomorow, and I'm hoping she can figure it out.

 

[cyberlizard]

demons do not hide behind every corner, most of the time (99.9) we do not wrestle against principalities and poweres we wrestle against ourselves, our fallen nature and our fallen bodies (which do not always behave correctly as they ought).

for quietspirit, if they are not healed - amen. What more can you offer. For depression there are no quick fixes. Even if God heals the depression there is still all the baggage that comes with it....therefore zaksmumy hit the nail on the head, with be transformed by the renewal of your mind (sounds like CBT)