Can depression make you dumber?

Question

I've read that depression actually shrinks parts of your brain and damages it because of overabundance of stress hormones, chemical imbalances, etc.

I've been suffering from depression for quite a while (almost a decade). I keep remembering all those years back when this never was happening, and I keep remembering the years when it began to build up. All I can remember is that slowly every year, it seemed as if I was thinking less and less, becoming less and less efficient. Things that came to be so easily before are so incredibly difficult and even impossible now. That's really sad because I think my mind has been reduced to the point where I think I was smarter 10 years ago than I am now. I used to look down on kids who didn't get good grades in school because I didn't understand how it could be so difficult. Now I am one of those kids. I almost dropped out of high school and I have dropped out of college twice.

Anyways, is there a chance I could become the way I was before?

Answer 1

No, in fact people who have a depression or get manic depressive are most of all very intelligent, because they think to much.
The advice I can give you is: come a lot in open air, in the sunlight if possible and try not to think to much of problems, easy said maybe ,but it works.
To talk about it is already the first step and gives a relieve.

Answer 2

Good news- simply, yes! You most definitely can return to your previous level of functioning (and thinking). Depression, while deblilitating, isn't permanent. But you need to get treatment. Depression is a disease, just like diabetes, and you wouldn't go around not treating that! You have to seek treatment for depression. I would go to a psychiatrist first; he/she can make the diagnosis, maybe run some tests, and get you on some medication. You may have to adjust this, but I wouldn't be surprised if you will see a dramatic, quick (a couple of weeks, usually) difference in the way you feel. Since your depression has been so long term, I would really encourage you to also find a good therapist (and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the quickest, most effective kind). If you already are getting help, you obviously need a change in medication, or maybe even a change in therapists. My guess is that you aren't getting any help. Please reach out and see somebody STAT! I promise that you don't have to go around feeling this way forever. There is hope! But you need to take advantage of the help available. Take care, and God Bless!

Answer 3

Im going to recite to you what a wise man once said to me before he past away. "Happiness is a choice." Yes thats right whether you believe it or not. Listen it doesnt make you dumber. The people who wrote that are stupid so dont listen to them. You are only making yourself more depressed thinking like that. Please try to think of something positive and focus on it never let it go. Read the book called The Secret by Rhonda byrne it may help you. If it doesnt help never for get that happiness is a choice. Life is so short to be dwelling on all the saddness. Find something that makes you happy and stay with it. Maybe college is not right for you. Find a job your happy with get an apartment stay in it get you some books and relax, read, love , and live. Its the only way that you can truely be happy. Give to others what you never had. Help people and love them and when the end comes you will have a huge loving family before you and then hopefully you will pass on to something much better than this. Life is but a fragment dont waste it. Find someone that can take your pain away. Find what makes you whole. Find your solace. Listen ive suffered greatly too but i want you to be happy because i know you can be if you search within your self and find the true purpose in your being and fufill it to its greatest potential. You know who you are. You know what you can do. Now do it and give life all you have before its too late. I wish you the best of luck in your life. Remember "happiness is a choice."

Answer 4

I am 39 and have suffered depression since I was 13 years old. I don't know if you get dumber. In my case I just feel like instead of getting older in my mind. I have stayed childlike and it's very scary. I am forget-full and sometimes I say a different word for what I am thinking about. example: TV when I meant to say radio. That never happened before. Just keep your mind active. Read more that will help. Depression sucks. I just quit my job after one month and a half. I had a panic attack and left. I am currently depressed and I have no reason to feel this way. I have always dealt with it on my own. God bless and exercise your mind.

Answer 5

It isn't that you get dumber, it's that you lose the desire to keep up with and acquire information and therefore seem to have less 'smarts' than the average person who isn't depressed.

There are many highly intelligent people, even in the public eye, who suffer from depression and have to struggle to maintain an interest in the world around them. One such person is seen almost weekly on 60 Minutes.

Depression, in and of itself is a state of mind, it isn't a brain disease that's materially effecting your brain cells capacities to function. There are several studies going on to develop more answers about what biological or chemical functions may be causative factors, these are hardly definitive or certain.

Be extremely careful of the kinds of information that comes your way which are coming from unreliable sources, the studies that are being conducted have helped in the development of pharmaceuticals that have been very helpful but the science is still in the early stages.

Just a very general overview to start with is

http://www.allaboutdepression.com/cau_02.html

Answer 6

Depression can make you feel slow, like you're swimming in molasses. You can work on getting faster. Cardio exercise will help both the depression and the feeling slow, because it will increase the blood flow to the brain. Try walking half an hour a day and building up to one hour a day, 3-5 times a week. It will help a lot. Also work on word puzzles or crossword puzzles to increase your brain power. See www.alz.org, which talks about avoiding alzheimer's but could be helpful for you.

Answer 7

It does shrink part of your brain.

I have bipolar disorder and I went in a really high happy up mood for about a month and now I've been spending the past 7 months in the depressive state.

It has interrupted my sleeping patterns, it effects your memory greatly and other things.

There is a chance it could happen again. It can take 6 months for your brain to fully recover. If you're on antidepressants you should be fine.

Answer 8

Depression DOES NOT make you dumber. However, when someone is depressed; things do seem more difficult. This is NORMAL!!

Once your depression begins to subside, you will want to learn more & rest assured; YOU WILL!!! Although, you WILL NEVER be the VERY SAME person you once were...... you will be able to UNDERSTAND those people you will meet in your life who will be where you are now!! Gee, do we EVER need people out there who UNDERSTAND depression.

Sorry to say, there aren't many DOCTORS out there that do understand. Maybe you could be one of those DOCTORS that do in the future??

Answer 9

In my experience I would say yes, but everyone is different. Sounds like manic depressive disorder, gotten me in trouble more than once. Sometimes you feel like you can't freaking get out of bed, other times you are so freaking competent (in your own mind) that you can do anything. Sounds like you might need to see a psychiatrist my friend. Wellbutrin or some other Seratonin uptake inhibitor may be in your future. (also DO get checked for diabetes) Good Luck!

Answer 10

Is your depression being treated, or are you trying to go it alone? I get the impression that you aren't being treated. There is definitely a chance that you could become like you were before, but you'll need to consult a psychiatrist to do it. He'll probably try you on an SSRI, such as Lexapro. Worked wonders for me.