Depression and Memory Problems

Reader’s Question

I’m constantly feeling depressed. The worst part of what I’ve been going through is that my memory seriously doesn’t seem to be working at all anymore. I’m a student, and this has really become a big problem for me. My mind blanks out whenever I’m on a topic or trying to solve a problem, and no matter how hard I try to remember the most simple things it just doesn’t come to my head. And when I feel a little stressed the whole situation gets even worse. Just a little stress in the middle of an exam is enough for me to completely forget about the whole subject, and after that I can’t write even a word.

My memory problems are not just happening in school but also in normal everyday stuff. Sometimes, I don’t remember the faces of people I knew for quite some time, or I don’t remember the names of the people who were my close friends for a year or something! I might check an email one day and three days later when I’m reading it I don’t even remember I that I read it before.

The whole thing is really started to freak me out! I’m beginning to feel desperate about the whole situation. Please give me some advice. What should I do?

Psychologist’s Reply

It’s not uncommon for individuals experiencing a depression to have some problems with memory and concentration. There’s a region of the brain called the hippocampus that appears particularly involved in this difficulty. The good news is that not only are the more typical symptoms of depression alleviated with good antidepressant therapy, but also problems with memory abate quite nicely.

Given the fact that a lot of different factors can affect brain functioning, it’s probably a good idea to have a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist. Even if it’s determined that your memory issues are related to the chemical imbalances involved in your depression, it’s possible that not all of your symptoms will abate quickly with treatment. But with good evaluation and care, you should find yourself returning to a more normal level of functioning.

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