Is Memory Loss a Symptom of Depression?
When addressing the many symptoms of depression there are a few classic symptoms that will always be mentioned whenever the topic rises, notably sadness, anxiety, fatigue, loss of interest, appetite changes, and some physical symptoms such as headaches; but is memory loss a symptom of depression? Counseling of Southwest Florida, a provider of expert drug and mental health counseling in Naples, FL, has decided to tackle the question. This analysis was made in hopes that somebody who may be suffering from a link between loss of memory and depression may recognize whether or not they need assistance in dealing with the condition.
How Does Depression Affect Memory?
For starters, is memory loss a symptom of depression? Yes. But what exactly are depression’s effects on memory and memory loss for people who are suffering from a depressive state?
Memory problems from depression usually manifest themselves in the form of short-term memory loss, this is obviously not ideal as a functioning memory is a key part of any healthy person’s life. Sufferers will likely have feelings of confusion or forgetfulness throughout the day and feel that completing tasks for work or school and making decisions becomes much more difficult when in a depressive state. Is there any silver lining to this symptom? Sufferers can expect their long-term memory and motor skills to remain unaffected by depression. Although this is not much of reconciliation, it is one less thing to worry about.
Why Depression Causes Memory Loss
Now that we’ve answered the question of “is memory loss a symptom of depression” it is time to address the reasons that depression affects memory when it isn’t a physically deteriorating neurological condition. One of the main driving factors for why sufferers of depression experience memory loss have been linked to another symptom, poor sleeping habits.
Depression causes trouble with sleeping and with waking up, this commonly leads to feelings of fatigue in the sufferer which in turn can lead to memory loss. Every person should be receiving a healthy amount of sleep each day, getting too little or too much will lead to impaired memory throughout the day. If you notice that depression has gotten in the way of your everyday life and you wish to find a solution in the form of either group or individual counseling, be sure to team up with experts who will be with you every step of the way.
Our Southwest Florida Counseling Center Is Here to Help
If you or a loved one is suffering from depression and you wish to find some professional and expert help, Counseling of Southwest Florida is prepared to be of assistance. We offer assistance for sufferers of many afflictions and would be proud to be a part of your recovery process. Get in contact with our team today or read some of our other articles to learn more about the benefits of counseling, mental health, and drug addiction.
Related Readings:
Casey is the founder and CEO of Portner Counseling Group (PCG), a counseling center in the Fort Lauderdale area, which specializes with issues related to drug and alcohol use. Casey has completed focused course work on the physiological aspects of drug addiction and human psychology, as well as received extensive training on the treatment of co-occurring disorders.