anxiety/panic attacks with depression?

Question

Does anyone with these conditions have trouble with memory,and concentration, if so give me some examples,that might help me feel better knowing im not the only with memory and concetration issues.. Your serious input is appreciated

Answer 1

I have anxiety and depression as well as bad memory and zero concentration. I agree there is a connection with some people on these. I'm not going to give you links to books on these topics. Here is my input/opinion.

I'll explain how I am maybe it's the same for you.

When I'm full of anxiety I'm only concentrating on getting rid of it. Everything else that happens during this time is background noise. I will have hard time remembering anything but the anxiety. Obviously I can't concentrate either.

When I'm depressed I'm focused on what is causing my depression so my concentration is split. Then since I'm depressed im inactive so my mind is just for lack of better way of explaining. Just laying there. I'm focused on nothing so nothing happens. I have no brain activity. So I don't really have much concentration to through around or many things to remember.

For what it's worth. I feel I understand exactly what you are feeling.

Answer 2

Hi,
There is this guide by anxiety expert Joe Barry , he has taught thousands of people to be panic free without any medication using a revolutionary new technique, http://www.panicaway.co.nr , its really a great guide , it should help you get rid of panic attacks forever in a few days

Hope this helps you and wish you the best of health

Answer 3

Memory concentration can be directly understood as having a mind healthy enough to 'direct' one's senses to place an experience in a particular place, where it can be retrieved at will.

Because of this, as our brains become more 'taxed' by other psychological difficulties, the amount of energy, space, and/or resources we can devote to conscious sensory retrival goes down. So, it's hard to do alot of remembering if your brain is constantly busy putting sensory experiences back in place (schizophrenia) diverting energy to sending 'happy' endorphin fixers to the depression leak, or trying to balance the excess adrenaline alert being fed through your body in anticipation of a panic attack.

Imagine waking up late (alarm clock is broke) and you have 10 minutes to get out the door to catch the train. Your first priority is NOT going to be sit down and calmly go over a list of what you plan to do at work today, or think about what you are going to be eating for dinner afterwards. The priority will be on those aspects which absolutely need to be done (change of clothes, quick grooming, gathering of materials, leaving) and everything else will be of a secondary, if-I-have-a-moment-to-spare activity. A crisp memory function is considered one of those 'spare' resources your brain will discard in such moments/experiences where you are having prolonged difficulty.

Think of the memory as something that will be 'fixed' once you take care of the anxiety/depression. In other words, don't add the anxiety of trying to remember to your already full plate.

As for tips, do alot of writing. If you write it, you don't have to mentally remember it. I have a fridge full of post-it-notes that I use to keep track of the things I need to know, so my fridge is kinda like my back-up memory drive. By making it a place I can go to 'remember' when I can't, that's one less activity my brain has to try and do while under pressure.

Answer 4

panic attack is a period of intense, often temporarily debilitating, sense of extreme fear or psychological distress, typically of abrupt onset. Though it is often a purely terrifying feeling to the sufferer, panic attacks are actually an evolutionary body response often known as the fight-or-flight response occurring out of context. Symptoms may include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, chest pain (or chest tightness), sweating, nausea, dizziness (or slight vertigo), light-headedness, hyperventilation, paresthesias (tingling sensations), and sensations of choking, smothering and dreamlike and disconnected sensations. During a panic attack, the body typically releases large amounts of adrenaline into the bloodstream. Many first time sufferers of a panic attack believe they are dying, going insane or having a heart attack. Many say panic attacks are among the most frightening experiences of their lives. Repeated and seemingly unprovoked panic attacks may be a sign of panic disorder, but panic attacks are associated with other anxiety disorders as well. For example, people who suffer from phobias may experience panic attacks upon exposure to certain triggers. People with panic disorder often can be successfully treated with therapy and/or anti-anxiety medication or antidepressants.
The various symptoms of a panic attack can be understood as follows. First, there is the sudden onset of fear with little provoking stimulus. This leads to a release of adrenaline (epinephrine) which brings about the so-called fight-or-flight response wherein the person's body prepares for strenuous physical activity. This leads to an increased heart rate (tachycardia), rapid breathing (hyperventilation), and sweating (which increases grip and aids heat loss). Because strenuous activity rarely ensues, the hyperventilation leads to a drop in carbon dioxide levels in the lungs and then in the blood. This leads to shifts in blood pH which in turn can lead to many other symptoms, such as tingling or numbness, dizziness, burning and lightheadedness. It is also possible for the person experiencing such an attack to feel as though they are unable to catch their breath, and they begin to take deeper breaths, which also acts to decrease carbon dioxide levels in the blood