Why Depression can completely erase your memory?
It gets harder and harder
to remember things when you are melancholy, especially good recollections. And
if that wasn't bad enough, some medications that lift your spirits might also
impair your memory.
Jake believed that after
he stopped using marijuana, he wouldn't lose track of things like his keys or
the toilet paper his girlfriend asked him to pick up on the way home. The
35-year-old says, "I just thought I was an idiot." It turned out that
Jake was having depression issues. But the embarrassment of forgetting things
only exacerbated his depression. I gave up using marijuana to acquire a clearer
head, but now I'm forgetting everything," he laments.
Memory loss is a common
sign of depression, which seems unfair. Three years ago, a user on the
r/Depression subreddit wrote, "I have days where I feel like I'm being
gaslighted or acquiring dementia." Similar topics cover issues including
difficulty following discussions, disorientation, and forgetting childhood
experiences that other siblings may recall with great detail.
People prefer to only
remember events that match their present mood, a process psychologists refer to
as "mood-congruent memory," which may explain why depression-related
memory loss can be so severe. This is especially problematic if you're
depressed because it increases your propensity to remember negative events and
perpetuates the myth that nothing positive ever occurs.
According to
psychotherapist and clinical social worker Brent Metcalf, "one of the ways
the body tries to protect itself from depression is by disassociation, which
can make us feel disconnected from our brain, body, and thoughts, causing this
memory loss or brain fog." This is another reason why we're more forgetful
when we're depressed. Dissociation can be very subtle, despite the way it is
frequently shown in movies and television shows, where it is portrayed as a
dramatic, personality-splitting process only experienced by those who have
experienced substantial trauma. According to Metcalf, "it could be
anything as basic as not feeling connected to your body, thoughts,
surroundings, and environment."
Memory loss is a frequent
complication of melancholy, according to clinical psychologist Holly Schiff.
However, she places the blame on stress chemicals like cortisol, which are more
likely to be released when we're down. She cautions that excessive cortisol in
the brain prevents the development of new brain cells in the hippocampus, which
is crucial for the formation of memories. As a result, the stress reaction
brought on by depressed episodes could impair memory.
Additionally, too much
cortisol interferes with sleep, which makes it more difficult for the brain to
regenerate. For all of these reasons, numerous studies have found that
untreated depression can result in memory loss and deterioration of cognitive
abilities.
In addition, some
antidepressants, such as SSRIs, can exacerbate memory loss, dealing a cruel
double blow. However, persons who suffer from depression shouldn't be
discouraged from obtaining treatment if necessary. Additionally, Schiff offers
some tips for preventing forgetting, such as setting digital reminders, keeping
a calendar, and attempting to concentrate on only one activity at once.
Additionally, addressing the depression head-on — whether that be through
counseling, physical activity, medication, or a combination of these — should
aid in getting your memory back. Simply taking the time to write down your
grocery list before you get to the store may need some patience, time, and
commitment.
That is, at least, how
Jake's experience has been. After his girlfriend suggested that he may be sad,
he began to deal with his symptoms more pro-actively by going to the gym and
staying up later. And even though he still struggles with forgetfulness, his
memory is gradually becoming better. But he says to me, "I'm not as hard
on myself about it now." That has made it simpler to concentrate.
And that's pretty much
the finest thing you can think of to do when you're depressed.