Memory loss - pseudo dementia

[Nikita12]

Hi,

I’ve had depression for 15 years but I was still quite high functioning until 2 years ago. At that time my world fell apart. My depression has been so severe and the most distressing symptom is the memory loss. I don’t remember hardly anything about my life and it’s like my memory is being wiped from minute to minute. I have forgotten all of the knowledge I built during my career and I’m unable to retain any new information. My vocabulary has been reduced to only a few words because I’ve forgotten the rest. I go to places I’ve been going to for twenty years and they don’t feel familiar. My psychiatrist says I’m suffering pseudo dementia.

I’m just wondering if anyone else has experienced the same thing. I’ve been to a lot of depression support groups and no one else reports this symptom. I just want to know im not alone and to hear from someone who understands.

Thanks for reading.

[PamelaR]

Hello Nikita and welcome to Beyond Blue forums

It's good you've found your way to the community of caring, friendly, supportive and non judgemental pople.

Interestingly, I've had depression now for almost 50 years - on and off. Generally when my PTSD is triggered. Over the past 2 years, my memory is getting worse. In particular, I forget words, everyday words. Sometimes it can take me quite awhile to find the word I'm looking for. Generally my hubby tells me what it is.

My memory has never been good for names and dates. Now it's much worse. On a normal day I generally remember only the good times - never the bad times unless I've been triggered. Then it's full throttle.

My thoughts on memory are - my brain (mind) takes in millions and millions of pieces of information hourly. From everything my eyes, ears, skin picks up. That is an awful lot of information to retain and while the experts say you use less than 10% of your brain capacity, I don't think they take into consideration the amount of extraneous data that gets captured and stored.

So, for me, shedding things (i.e. forgetting things that are no longer needed, e.g. data from my career) is a way of making room for more information. I remember conciously always saying that I don't have to remember phone numbers because they are written down. So I didn't remember phone numbers. Though I can remember the fine details of the person the number belongs too.

I'm not sure of your age, so I don't know if any of my experience is applicable to you. I turn 65 this year and I do worry. However, there are some things that I do to help me keep my mind agile -

Using my cognitive ability (e.g. volunteering on BB forums)

Eating foods rich in Omega 3, good oils (e.g. olive and coconut), all the essential vitamins, home grown veggies that contain essential minerals. Apparently with the method of farming essential minerals and nutrients are being depleted from the foods we eat. So I make sure I grow my own veggies and herbs in soil so I'm getting all those things I need to help my mind and body function as I age. Of course, some may not believe in all this. But I do and think my body has benefited from my change in eating.

Nikita, not sure how much this is helping you. Keep reaching if you want, I'm sure there are others here who will have things to share.

Kind regards

PamelaR

[Croix]

Dear Nikita12~

I'd like to join PamelaR in welcoming you here, I'm somewhat similar in having PTSD, anxiety and bouts of depression for a very long time and these have led to have difficulties with memory, however I'm not sure this is related to your problems at a lesser degree or something different.

I would imagine that some of the practical measures to combat memory shortfall might be the same even if the causes are not identical. You may find the following thread of interest:

Forums / PTSD & Trauma / Poor concentration due to PTSD

In short I heavily use notes, smartphone and my partner as 'external memory' and get good at bluff:)

While I know little of pseudodementia I do understand it is a reversible condition, and as depression is made better things improve markedly.

Croix

[Dianne 1234]

How are you doing these days, did you get help