Rehab Educates on Memory Loss During Depression

Erlanger, KY - SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky recently published a blog post about how memory loss can happen when someone has depression. Depression is a mood disorder that can come in several different types. Major depressive disorder is when symptoms last for at least 2 less severe but last longer than 2 weeks. It can also last for more than 2 years. Postpartum depression occurs after someone gives birth. Perinatal depression occurs when someone is currently pregnant. Seasonal affective disorder is when depression symptoms only seem to exist during certain seasons. Typically, those seasons are fall and winter. Medical professionals are the only ones who can diagnose depression.

“Memory is one of the most important foundations of everyday life. The brain forms memory using two systems. The first system is described as unconscious, meaning our routine and everyday decisions. The second system is more complex, focusing on problem-solving and logic. The first system is more associated with memory and recalling information while the second system is for critical thinking,” the blog post states.

Studies have shown that memory is related to peaks of activity. The brain skims over these activity peaks to choose moments to bring forward. The area of the brain that controls memory is the hippocampus. This part of the brain also controls emotion regulation and how people respond to stress. When someone has depression, the hippocampus is smaller than those who do not have depression. When this area is smaller, people can experience memory loss and have poor memory of positive events. It can also create more memory of negative events and an impaired memory recollection. Stress can also cause memory disruption and could be a contributing factor to memory loss during depression.

There are several forms of memory loss, and forgetting things can happen to everyone. However, there can be more severe versions of memory loss. For example, someone might have dementia, which can come with several symptoms. These symptoms might include word mixing, misplacing in unusual locations, repetition, getting lost in familiar areas, forgetting common words, and difficulty completing tasks. When these symptoms impact one’s daily life, talking with a doctor is encouraged. Typically, dementia will start mild and then become more severe over time. Some people might experience psychosis as a result of their depression. These experiences of psychosis can lead to delusions and hallucinations. People who experience this might be unable to remember what events have happened and which resulted from their psychosis.

“Memory loss caused by depression is a treatable condition. Antidepressants work by increasing the number of neurotransmitters in the brain. These neurotransmitters are chemical messengers, and they help regulate the chemicals in the brain. This helps the brain create new nerves to reform connections that broke down due to the lack of neurotransmitters. The longer depression goes untreated, the more damaging it can become,” the blog post continues.

SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky understands that different age groups require different forms of care. Hence, they offer a geriatric program for individuals over 65. They also provide 24/7 crisis care because crises only sometimes happen at the most convenient time. Often, when someone is ready to seek treatment, it might be in the middle of the night when offices are closed. They offer no-cost care assessments that allow potential patients to meet and be evaluated by a representative before they start treatment at their facility.

For more information about SUN Behavioral Health Kentucky’s services, visit their website or call them at 859-429-5188.