Why do you remember things less well when you are depressed?

Question

Or is it just me?

Answer 1

I think it's because we concentrate so much on negative stuff that we just don't have the energy to remember more ordinary things... we probably notice stuff less well too... and I found, when I was at my most depressed, that I lost stuff really easily... I mean, more easily than normal... it was like I was dropping of the earth one bit at a time... fortunately friends and family helped me get a grip again, but that's another story.

Yup, the mind's psychologically and chemically imbalanced when you're depressed, that's why you forget stuff... it's just not working properly.

Happy 2007 though!

Answer 2

Hmm... depression is a really bad feeling that can originate in anything: in a certain frustration, an impossible dream, an obsession, a bad life... I guess... or other things.

I cry and feel helpless sometimes, I feel like I'm all tied up and there's nothing I can do to solve things and I don't know if I'll ever find strength to carry on :) but I don't think it's depression.

What you say may be true, otherwise how could psycholosgists cure a depressed person? I suppose when you're depressed, the feeling just takes over, and you can think of nothing except how you feel, you don't start reviewing the reasons since you might feel it's useless, so maybe this is why some people who suffer from depression don't even notice they can't remember things very well.

The fact that you noticed this can mean two things in my opinion: you are only close to depression, or you just have a great self-conscience. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's a good thing, because it means that you could get read of your depression easier than others.

Answer 3

Do you mean depressed = fed up; or depressed = clinical depression?
If it's the former, you probably just can't be a*sed to make the effort to remember; with the latter it will change just about everything - the way you remember/think/feel/want - all become very subdued. Your self esteem takes a nose-dive, sex drive goes out the window so just not remembering things is only a small part of it.
Hope this is of some help - Good luck in 2007

Answer 4

because your mind is too busy whizzing around churning trivial junk making mountains out of molehills and spending an aeon rationalising and blaming yourself. You also tend to worry about what MIGHT be as opposed to being able to deal with what really is.
We all tend to imagine the consequences of what MIGHT happen due to a little something we may or may not have done. We tend to exaggerate our own actions and visualise the repurcussions that may occur instead of only facing and dealing with what actually happens.

I am a continual victim of my own actions and even worse an abused, mentally tormented victim of my own imagination. More often than not I have imagined the worst, suffered the worst abuse and indignation at the treatment I may receive.... and eventually nothing comes of it.... and all my torment and depression was in vain - the only person affected by it was me.

and yes in the situations when I am depressed I cannot remember a lot of things - sometimes forgetting my own name.

But if you can remember that there ARE actually positives in life and be able to see the beauty of our surroundings, we can always be strong and carry on.

Depression seems to cause short term memory loss - walked in - left my keys ina specific place so as not to forget - can remember that much but cannot remember where I put them. But I can remember past hurts past loves etc.

Try thinking of something positive in each day (the more the merrier) and it helps. It aint the cure for all ills but it makes you feel better about forgetting where the damn keys are :-)

Answer 5

Because your attention isn't focused and that hazy cloud seems to fog everything. Also, things feel less important and the general lethargy extends to brain power. I have found that while I am depressed, things are hard to recall and even when I am feeling good, it is hard to remember things that happened during a down time. I think the brain functions on low during those times and is a bit cut off. Inevitably, this makes things worse when you are trying to break out of that downward spiral.

Answer 6

When you are depressed you are stressed and easily forget things. Your mind does not absorb new information as well either. When you are depressed you usually don't care about very much and so you tend to glaze over things.

Depression can make other events clearer, you may find yourself going over the smallest details of a particular event/ situation you were in and analysing every part of it.

I agree with you depression does lead to forgetfulness but it also goes the other way...this can also add to the depression and feelings of uselessness.

Answer 7

It is not that you remember thing less well, your mind plays tricks on you and you can only remember the awful things. The nice things recede into the back of your mind, the bad things become exaggerated and amplified and it seems as if they are all there is. This is not true! Everyone has good and bad times, they exist together, it just that when the black dog bites the good memories are cauterised out of existance. Bite me not foul hell hound!

Answer 8

I was just talking about this tonight. It is a defense mechanism that the mind makes memories store less efficiently during times of pain (emotional or physical). Plus when depressed your attention span is limited. People can block out total events that are emotionally or physically traumatic.

Answer 9

Not just you sweetie. I don't know why we seem to forget things more, its always happened to me when I've been depressed.
I also block out painful memories - I cannot remember a single break up. I've no idea how these things ended - I block it out.

Answer 10

Depression isn't just feeling down, it's the absence of feeling or caring. It's apathy, and that apathy means your body doesn't care as much about remembering things. Good luck.