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The question was submitted
26/10/2007
Subject: recovering concentration, memory, cognitive abilit
Hi, I'm 22, and was diagnosed with severe depression at 16 basically because of abuse and family issues. Prior, I did very at school and was especially good at english. When depression hit however I could not even focus on the words on a page, my head swam so much. Now I'm starting to recover but am still finding great difficulty in concentrating enough to get through life, especially work, even the most brain-dead job on the planet I'm afraid of stuffing up. I can't remember what I did yesterday and 'zone out' even in concersations with friends. Have not been on any meds until today (zoloft) only counselling and a pychiatrist who said the concentration probelm wasn't 'organic' or chemical but related to the stuff that happened to me. I read here that a bit of memory/concentration loss is normal, but: 1) does it come back, and 2) how?!- will medication help?
Thank you.
Answer from DepNet
Hello, and thankyou for writing to us. From your mail, it sounds as if you have had a difficult six years, dealing with symptoms of depression.
Depression can affect different people in different ways. This is partly to do with biology (our individual chemistry) and partly to do with environmental factors. In your case, the symptoms of mental confusion, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss seem to have been quite pronounced. These symptoms are probably related to disruption of the chemical balance in the brain. Also, when people have been traumatised, the brain may sometimes respond by blanking out events, as a way of coping. The combination of the symptoms you describe, can be frightening and disheartening.
In terms of recovery, one of the most important things to understand, is that depression is an illness, and that it responds well to proper treatment. A supportive medical practitioner (GP or psychiatrist) may prescribe medication to help restore brain chemistry, and this often results in improvements in all symptoms of depression including memory function and concentration. Many antidepressant medications work by allowing brain hormones (neurotransmitters) to return to levels that existed prior to the onset of the depressive illness.
Another proven treatment of depression, is counselling. In your case, talking with a mental health professional may help you to gently deal with some of hurtful issues from the past, and to develop confidence in managing your life generally, and your work more specifically, as you recover.
Most people recover from depression with a combination of medication and talking therapies, in conjunction with positive lifestyle changes (for example, gentle exercise, maintaining a good sleep pattern, and doing things you enjoy). Recovery is the rule, not the exception. All the best!
The answer was published on DepNet
31/10/2007