Bad memory?

[lexkristina]

Does anyone find that they have trouble remembering things because of medication for anxiety and/or depression or just from the mental illnesses themselves?

Thanks!

[alismami]

Yes especially after starting to take Xanax

[lexkristina]

Yes especially after starting to take Xanax

Yes! It's horrible. Thank you.

[alankay]

Try a lower dose of Xanax. Alankay

[issy]

I do too, I used to have a really sharp memory until my life was taken over with anxiety. I'm sometimes on a mission to get something from the shops and then I can forget what I went there for! and the more you try to think what it was the harder it is to remember that something :O

[stp4779]

Hi everyone, I'm new here :) My memory is horrible since I started Effexor and Wellbutrin about 6 years ago or so. I never used to think the medicine was the culprit, but now I'm starting to think they are.

[Dahila]

When I used ativan daily my memory was awful, right now I can not complain.... In work I remember at least 150 custom brokers codes :))

[Ponder]

Yea. I ussually talk about tit all the time.

I am certain mine is from long standing stress resultant from my mental illness.

My grandma suffered with Dementia. Dementia happens to the best of us. I am not writing off that I will not get it or alzheimer's. They are the new dirty words for the age people of this area. I use to volunteer by playing chess with on old guys in one of the local centres in the town I just moved from.

Memory laps for me is often associated with my anxiety. Another factor is also my inability to switch of when triggered with constant advertising in all its forms wherever I go. I simply don't't have much space left in my head, and or have issues doing a memory dumps when needed.

I started out with just basic memory loss. For example, forgetting where the car is parked, location of keys, wallet, down to struggling with what is was that you were sent out to purchase at the grocery store. All to often most people will write such off as nothing more than stress related, however for me, it has been happening all the time and getting worse.

Unfortunately, people wait until it's too late - Denial. Having lived for 25 years in one town - 5 as a child and 20 later on, I will often wake up from my waking state wondering where on earth I am, where is it I am going and even then remembering that, wondering how to get there! Doing 60km/h in a 100 zone because I can't concentrate long enough or my mind just gives in and wants to slow down. "WAKE UP DAVE" is the call that ussually snaps me out of it.

Then there is forgetting the name given to label things! "um - hmmmmm - mind block - um - hmmmmmmmm oh yea, a CHAIR!" You can think of it in your head, but you forget what it is called. "excuse me, I'd like to buy a - Um Hmmmmm - mind block - um - hmmmmm mmm - damn it - yea yea, got it now - A SCREWDRIVER!

This kind of thing is getting worse for me. This latest move has brought much to light in regards to this subject and is something I will be raising with the new GP when applying for my new 12 month mental health plan. I am going to start taking some natural supplements. I am done with synthesized medications and also any doctor or professional that has a negative attitude towards my wishes. I have some doctor shopping to do!
__________________________________________________ _______________________

In all this - I know what I need for the most part. I need my space! My sick wife and disrespectful kids all of whom keep reminding me of how fucked up I am only makes things worse. I have my work cut out for me. Only one more year with the last kid - and I will see how things pan out after that. If I am still to be constantly ridiculed by them and society after that - then I guess I will eventually be left out on my own if not dead. I hold so glimmer of hope that even in such a worse case scenario, that just by the simple act of hanging on, I will eventually find self, weather still in a relationship or not.

There are just so many factors to consider - only you can tell yourself why you suffer like so - asking others may help, but finding space can only come from inside yourself. I need my walks, forum posts and alone time - if I can't have those things at all, then my head has no space for life itself, let alone remembering BS that's invasively pumped in on a 24/7 basis.
_______________________________________

Best of luck with your memory loss.

[lexkristina]

Thanks for the responses guys! Glad I'm not the only one. I'm just going to take vitamins that help memory. 😊

[Dahila]

I think it has a lot to do with anxiety. I did space out in the car, in work, in home. It was when my anxiety was on the top:( When I am calm I do not tend to daydreaming so often, (it was mine hiding place)...

[DodgingRain]

When I suffer from high levels of stress and anxiety/depression that lasts for months my memory suffers regardless of if I'm on meds or not. It gets better again once things get back to a more normal state.

[Chatative]

When I suffer from high levels of stress and anxiety/depression that lasts for months my memory suffers regardless of if I'm on meds or not. It gets better again once things get back to a more normal state.

I agree that it isn't necessarily caused by medication although I'm not saying it can't be.

I have had terrible short term memory for quite a while now. I often struggle to find the right words to use... I know it in my head but can't remember for the life of me what it is! It is possibly a result of either Shcizophrenia or APs. I've been symptom & medication free for 6 months now & my memory has improved overall but I still struggle finding the right words sometimes!

The one thing I have noticed in particular whilst being more stressed is 'brain fog', I can't think clearly & sometimes I get disorientated, confused & forget what I was just doing. I'm only 26 so these things do seem a bit strange! I brought it up with my Doctor but he said nothing. I think part of the reason is he is trying to play down my anxiety so that I hopefully manage to get past it with some small changes myself.