How To Manage Memory Loss
Memory loss due to depression is typically managed with regular counseling or therapy and antidepressants. Leading an active lifestyle and getting involved in your community can also elevate your mood.
You can also manage your memory loss by using memory aids. Depending on your needs, this could mean using alarm clocks to keep track of time, color-coding household items, or placing safety notes with instructions on appliances. You may also consider getting a home care provider to help you as needed. You may also consider joining a support group.
Medications that can improve memory and brain function in people with Alzheimers disease or other neurological disorders are also available.
How To Manage Depression And Memory Loss
Disclaimer: As BetterHelp Affiliate, We may receive compensation from BetterHelp or other sources if you purchase products or services through the links provided on this page.
With that, there are other strategies which you can follow to manage the memory loss in everyday life including:
- Keep reminders in your phone and mention the tasks that must be done at the same time.
- Keep your focus aligned towards one work at a time.
- Make sure that you work in a distraction free environment.
- Commit yourself to consume all the required information in the memory.
Questionnaires For Stress And Anxiety
The Short Form Perceived Stress Scale
The Short Form Perceived Stress Scale is an abbreviated version of the self-report Perceived Stress Scale . It provides the subjective assessment of stressful life events within the previous month. The PSS-4 consists of four items in which the frequency of stressful events is rated on a 5-point Likert scale . The stress dimensions measured are unpredictability, uncontrollability, and sense of overload in everyday life. Individual scores are compared to normative values. The complete 14-item scale has higher reliability than the PSS-4 , but the brevity of PSS-4 makes it an attractive tool for research.
PSS-4 population norms for non-clinical samples have been gathered in the 1983 Harris Poll in the United States and in the United Kingdom . When comparing our data to the more recent norms established by Warttig et al. , the total PSS-4 score of our sample is very similar . Also the internal consistency of the scale in our sample was comparable to that reported by Warttig et al. .
Table 2. Comparison of average PSS-4 scores in the present sample and in the normative sample collected by Warttig et al. .
The Six-Item Form of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Read Also: How To Get Through Anxiety
When To Seek Help
If you think you are sleep deprived, see a doctor about it. Don’t succumb to the myth that older people need fewer hours of slumber, Dr. Fabiny says. “If you were a nine-hour-a-night sleeper when you were 29, you will still be when you are 79. But sleep quality may change with aging.” You may wake more often, for example, and find it more difficult to get back to sleep.
It can also help your memory to give your brain a break. “As you get older, it may become more difficult to maintain a high level of attention for several things at once,” Dr. Fabiny says. “Dividing your attention can definitely cause you to think you are having memory problems.”
Finally, remember that fatigue which interferes with memoryand life in generalis not normal. Inadequately treated pain, sleep disorders, orlow thyroid hormone levels in your blood could be at the root of a pooped-out and forgetful demeanor. “If you are feeling fatigued or lacking in energy, it’s important to have a conversation with your doctor,” Dr. Fabiny says. “It’s possible that an existing medical problem needs more attention or that an evaluationfor a new condition is warranted.”
The Connection Between Anxiety And Memory Loss
Anxiety and chronic stress are strongly linked to memory problems and the risk of Alzheimers disease and other forms of dementia, according to findings in Neurology and BMJ Open from a 38-year longitudinal study. Brain imaging research shows that anxiety involves many of the same brain circuits that are seen in Alzheimers disease. For example, a review in Learning & Memory concludes that chronic stress shrinks volume in the hippocampus, a brain region that is seriously impacted in those with Alzheimers disease. Another study found that anxiety disorders are a strong indicator of future cognitive decline.
How does anxiety steal your memory? Stress and anxiety fire up the brain and harness mental resources that would typically be used for memory encoding. Effectively, the brain is busy coping with anxious thoughts and worries rather than processing external inputs. For example, research from the University of California, Irvine, suggests that brief bouts of intense stress can disrupt neuronal communication in the hippocampus.
Don’t Miss: Should I Take Anxiety Medication
Reaching Out For Support
While mild anxiety symptoms might lift on their own, persistent anxiety generally wont improve without support from a trained mental health professional.
To find therapists in your area who specialize in anxiety, consult a therapist directory or try a quick Google search.
Interested in giving online therapy a try? Start with our recommendations for the top online therapy services.
Let your therapist know about all of your symptoms, not just memory loss. Make sure to let them know if memory problems dont improve with treatment.
Already receiving some kind of treatment for anxiety and still have symptoms? Its worth talking to a professional about other approaches.
Not all treatments work for everyone, and it may take time to find the most effective approach for you.
Some people benefit from therapy alone, while others find a combination of medication and therapy most effective.
S To Control Your Anxiety
The good news about exercise and sleep is that they’re important for anxiety as well, so if you start ensuring that you get enough exercise and rest daily you’ll put yourself in a much better position for overcoming anxiety.
But you’ll still need to commit to a treatment option that can reduce your anxiety – and ultimately improve your memory – in the long term.
Was this article helpful?
Read Also: How To Beat Insomnia And Anxiety
How Anxiety And Memory Loss Are Connected
The stress response sheds light on how repeated anxiety can lead to memory loss. When your body reacts to real or perceived threats, electrical activity in the brain increases and produces adrenaline and cortisol. Memory loss can result if that process occurs when fear or anxiety is excessive or persists beyond developmentally appropriate periods. Thats because anxiety and stress tax the bodys resources.
Research like the study published in Brain Sciences acknowledges the relationship between high levels of anxiety and memory loss. One study in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry found that anxiety disorder is interrelated and inseparablewith loss of memory. It added how anxiety is likely an early predictor of future cognitive decline and possibly future cognitive impairment.
There is still a great deal to learn about the connection between anxiety and memory loss, which is an ongoing research topic. For instance, thanks to a first-of-its-kind study, there is now evidence that acute stress disrupts the process behind collecting and storing memories. Researchers found that short-term stress-activated certain molecules that in turn limit processes in the brains learning and memory region. As a result, given the link between anxiety and stress, both long-term and short-term anxiety can impact memory.
Make Time For Exercise
Exercising your body can help, too.
Physical activity can help improve your mood, ease symptoms of anxiety and depression, and boost overall brain health.
Try starting with something simple, like a 15-minute walk after meals, a weekend hike, or a walk along the beach.
Another benefit? Exercise can help tire you out, so you might fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. When you get better sleep, you might begin to notice anxiety symptoms, including memory loss, begin to ease.
Taking time to relax and wind down before getting into bed every night can also help improve the quality of your sleep.
Also Check: How To Live With Someone With Anxiety
Could This Be You
Typical symptoms of GAD include: Feeling worried or uneasy a lot of the time Having difficulty sleeping, which makes you feel tired Not being able to concentrate Being irritable or on edge Needing frequent reassurance from other people Physical symptoms such as a pounding heartbeat, breathing faster, palpitations , feeling sick, loss of appetite and butterflies in your tummy to name a few.
Did you know? The most recent Psychiatric Morbidity Survey indicates that there are three million people with an anxiety disorder in the UK.
How Does Xanax Work
Xanax is a benzodiazepine drug that acts as a central nervous system depressant. When taken, the user feels sedated and more at ease. It also has an anti-convulsant effect when taken in larger doses.
GABA is a neurotransmitter that regulates the communication between neurons. It is also a chemical that is released as a stress response and it has been found to help with a persons anxiety-related issues.
Xanax increases GABA levels in the brain and this process reduces the levels of other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and glutamate. This is what makes Xanax effective for those who suffer from panic attacks or generalized anxiety disorder.
The effects of Xanax on the brain are mixed but generally speaking, its not known to cause any form of memory loss. The way that Xanax works is by slowing down communication between nerve cells in the brain.
This will lead to feelings of calmness, relaxation, and relief from anxiety. Xanax does not have any long-term impact on the brain so there is no need for concern with regards to memory loss.
You May Like: Can You Pass Out From An Anxiety Attack
How To Manage Anxiety
It is possible to have the above possible causes of memory loss as you deal with anxiety. You can get over your memory loss by doing the following:
- Learn how to improve your memory
- Get over your anxiety
How to Improve Memory
There are some memory improvement approaches that can be used by anybody. However, these approaches are even more important if you suffer from anxiety and memory loss. Note that keeping focus on new and interesting activities can help to keep your memory active so that it retains more. Some activities for memory improvement include:
Regular blogging Daily blogging or journaling helps you to keep notes of things that happened in your day. There is no need to include too many details as long as you note the things that you consider to be worth remembering. Rereading these notes will help your mind retain more memories.
Try mnemonics You can learn mnemonics from various books available at bookstores and online. Note that to improve your memory, you must be committed to pursuing it and practicing it diligently.
How to Relieve Anxiety
1. Exercise Regularly
While the effect of exercise on the functions of the mind is usually ignored, it is worth encouraging everybody with anxiety issues to exercise regularly. Exercising increases the flow of blood, calms anxiety and stimulates increased production of neurotransmitters. Exercise can therefore work in a similar way to medication which is the reason why it should be done every day.
3. Sleep
7. Create Art
The Link Between Anxiety And Memory Loss
Lane, 22, has been dealing with anxiety-induced memory loss for as long as they can remember. They describe the sensation as a general fogginess around events in the past, which is often accompanied by an inability to think clearly. And when their memories are more painful or attached to trauma such as Lanes confusion around their transgender identity as a child it becomes even harder for them to recall things clearly.
I have pretty severe anxiety and spend hours every day too anxious to function, they tell Allure. I have the hardest time remembering the past or forming memories when I am anxious.
While Lanes experiences may sound extreme, they are actually quite common among people with generalized anxiety disorder. In fact, many others who suffer from extreme anxiety have also lost memories it can be a coping mechanism to forget things that were traumatic in order to prevent further instances of anxiety or emotional harm.
Recommended Reading: How To Relieve Anxiety Nausea
Can Xanax Cause Confusion In Elderly
Xanax is a benzodiazepine that is sometimes prescribed for the treatment of anxiety disorders. It does have some side effects, one of which may be confusion in elderly patients. This drug is not meant for all patients, so it is important to discuss your medical history with your doctor before taking Xanax.
The warning about confusion in elderly patients came from a study conducted by the FDA and found that Xanax was associated with low blood pressure and reduced heart rate in patients at high risk of falls.
Elderly patients should be monitored closely when taking this medication as they are more likely to experience these unwanted side effects. Some of the other common unwanted side effects for the elderly include severe drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, clumsiness, or unsteadiness.
Other Causes Related To Memory Loss
Normal age-related memory is the most common cause of memory loss with time. Good news? Its quite manageable. Brain tumors and infections can cause dementia-like symptoms. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is important for the nourishment of nerve cells and red blood cells and can result in memory problems.
Alzheimer’s disease causes progressive and irreversible brain damage and memory loss. It is the most common form of dementia. Disease damaging brain or nerves such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis. A study carried out in 2013 proved that depression increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Hypothyroidism affects brain health by slowing metabolism, which leads to memory problems. Minor head injuries can cause mild memory problems, even if you haven’t lost consciousness. Forgetfulness is also a potential side effect of some medications. Drinking or tobacco can impair your mental abilities.
Electroconvulsive therapy changes the chemistry of the brain, causing a brief attack, which can result in symptoms of depression and other mental illnesses. After ECT treatment, people can experience confusion and short-term memory loss.
Recommended Reading: How Long Before Effexor Works For Anxiety
Memory Loss And Aging
Weve all misplaced keys, blanked on someones name, or forgotten a phone number. When youre young, you dont tend to pay much attention to these lapses, but as you grow older, you may worry about what they mean. Perhaps you start to talk about a movie you saw recently when you realize you cant remember the title. Youre giving directions to your house when you suddenly blank on a familiar street name. Or you find yourself standing in the middle of the kitchen wondering what you went in there for. Memory lapses can be frustrating, but most of the time they arent cause for concern. Age-related memory changes are not the same thing as dementia.
As you grow older, you experience physiological changes that can cause glitches in brain functions youve always taken for granted. It takes longer to learn and recall information. Youre not as quick as you used to be. In fact, you may mistake this slowing of your mental processes for true memory loss. But in most cases, if you give yourself time, the information will come to mind. So, while its true that certain brain changes are inevitable when it comes to aging, major memory problems are not one of them. Thats why its important to know the difference between normal age-related forgetfulness and the symptoms that may indicate a developing cognitive problem.
Causes Of Anxiety Memory Loss
The main cause of memory loss is a hormone known as cortisol. It’s the hormone released during stress, which is why those with severe anxiety are more at risk for developing memory loss problems. Numerous studies have confirmed that cortisol contributes to memory loss, especially short term memory loss, because it is a toxin to the cells of the brain.
The longer you deal with anxiety, the more cortisol you’ll have in your system, and that means that you’re more likely to continue to suffer from memory loss in the future. But cortisol is not the only culprit. Other reasons for trouble remembering include:
Memory loss may be its own cause of anxiety. People are afraid of getting older and forgetting things, so when they forget anything they start to feel as though their minds are failing them.
All of these examples of memory loss are normal, and simply a part of dealing with anxiety. In order to overcome that memory loss, you need to do two things:
- Learn Memory Improvement Tricks
- Control Your Anxiety
Memory improvement tools are always important, and when you have anxiety they’re even more so. You should be focusing on new and interesting ways to keep your memory active.
Daily blogging is one useful way. Give yourself a personal recap of your day. You don’t need to go into great detail, but you should take relevant notes of things that you want to remember and then re-read those notes often in order to keep those memories alive.
Don’t Miss: Can Anxiety Cause Dry Mouth
Depression Antidepressants And Memory
Depression and memory loss goes a long way to antidepressants. If you think that medications for depression affect memory, then the answer is yes. Tricyclic antidepressants affect memory retention in some people. On the other hand, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors slows down memory function within two months of initial treatment.
Surprising Causes Of Memory Loss
If you have difficulty remembering things, your mind may make the leap to Alzheimers disease but thats not the only cause of memory loss.
Jasmin Merdan/Getty Images
You cant find your keys, or perhaps you forgot an appointment. For many people in middle age or older, simple acts of forgetfulness like these are scary because they raise the specter of Alzheimers disease.
But Alzheimers is not the only health problem that can lead to forgetfulness, says the National Institute on Aging. Memory lapses can happen at any age and for a number of reasons. And when the underlying cause is treated, the memory problems often improve as well.
Patients might experience memory loss and describe their symptoms similarly, but a doctor can tease apart what parts of the brain are affected, says Seth Gale, MD, a neurologist at Brigham and Womens Hospital and assistant professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
When you drill down and find out whats actually happening with someones mental functions, you can reassure them. For example, its common for people to still have the capacity to learn and store information, but because of their overloaded mental resources at this time of their life, they have trouble doing it well, Dr. Gale says.
In some cases, one or more of the following issues could be playing a role:
Don’t Miss: How To Work Through Anxiety