Feeling lost... anxiety, depression and memory loss

[Magma]

I’ve had depression for a long time but it got really bad due to work about three years ago. About the same time, my memory started to faulter. I have a great teenager, a loving partner, but I feel lost. I’ve had a lot of support since leaving work (until recently that is), regular psychologist and psychiatrist visits and I jangle from medications. But I’m lost. I don’t remember most of my life. I remember bits and pieces. The important things like my family, some personal history and stuff. I forget decisions I’ve made, things I’ve done, people I know, names etc. People have to jog my memory or remind me of things, even minutes after. I just feel helpless and lost.

[blondguy]

Hello Magma

Welcome to the forums and thankyou for having the courage to post too!

I understand your situation as I have experienced exactly the same as you with sporadic memory loss.

Just out of respect for you my anxiety/depression started in 1983 when I was 23. I managed to work in a senior management role but I did notice my memory was flagging

Its only my humble opinion after 30+ years with depression but just for me the adrenaline gland (anxiety) working so hard for so long and then combined with depression had its toll on me....even with the super low dosage of antidepressants I was put on back in '96.

The meds gave me my life...my career and my balance back. Sometimes with a lack of counseling and having way too much on my plate made my condition (and memory) worse but when I started to get weekly therapy my brain fog disappeared.....(The Good News!!)

Your memory is alive and present Magma....it seems to always go back to how much we have on our plate at the time.....Being under a dark cloud continuously will have an effect on our memory for sure

I really hope you can stick around the forums Magma.

You are not alone

My kind thoughts

Paul

[BballJ]

Hi Magma,

Firstly, welcome to the forums. I see blondguy (Paul) has given some amazing advice and I just wanted to extend on it and say as someone who has suffered from anxiety and depression for a long time, I know how you are feeling in that sense, I haven't had the memory loss but to say it wouldn't be associated would be silly and so many things happen with mental illness issues. Are you still going to your regular appointments with the psychologist and psychiatrist? If not, how long ago did you stop? How long has the memory loss been happening for?

Sorry for the questions, just want to better understand your situation.

Please, post back as much as you like, we are always happy to talk.

My best for you,

Jay

[geoff]

Hello Magma, can I also welcome you.

There are many different situations that happen in our life which will change what we remember, maybe something will trigger a thought that you have long forgotten about, however the person, the situation will come back but not the names of anyone.

You can have the name on the top of your tongue, but it eludes you and it frustrates you until you can remember.

Give yourself some credit here because it's such a complex life we live.

What we can't remember someone else will know and what someone else can't remember we will know and that doesn't mean you should blame yourself.

This is exactly what happens when I talk to a friend on the phone or an elderly chap I see every Sunday or even my twin brother, don't feel lost.
Geoff.

[Magma]

Hi

I haven’t been seeing my psychologist as much this year because she is in the process of finding a new office. As for my psychiatrist, I see him every 2-3 weeks on Skype. No one has been able to do anything about my memory. It got worse about six months before I went off work, about the time that the stress there started getting too much for me. It’s like I’m permanently dumbed down. I have trouble reading because I don’t remember what I’ve read. I forgot names, people, things that happen, words etc. My partner says I’m worse when I’m stressed out or not coping.