Memory Loss Due to Depression, Anxiety or Trauma?

yes, i have trouble knowing if my memories are real or something i’ve made up in my head

Absolutely. I have large memory gaps due to trauma. I can’t even remember anything that happened to me last week, let alone years ago.

I feel like it’s some type of merciful thing, like idk I’ve been through so much shit and honestly I’m thankful I don’t remember all the details. Good memories I try to write down especially in if I lose someone. If there’s a part of your life you really want to try to remember give your self many tries to think about it over weeks. Write down the memories as they come and you might have a better idea than before

Yes. They can be linked. I cant remember anything from my childhood and I've only just started to get my memory back while working through my trauma.

I remember all trauma but once it all stopped i barley remember the good memories.

So memory loss from trauma is definitely a proven side affect. I myself experienced that when my mother passed 2yrs ago and my memory STILL hasn’t fully recovered. I also went though anxiety and depression during that same time. So I would say yes. For me it’s more short term memory being affected than long. So you’re not alone.

Yes. When I was deciding whether or not to get divorced, I sometimes heard the trope, “Remember why you fell in love!” But I.. couldn’t.. remember… any memories or thought processes from when we were dating. I wasn’t able to unblock that until months after the divorce.

Yes the brain can block out memories related to trauma to protect itself. If you're only having problems with memory in the past, there may have been psychological trauma OR a brain injury around that time. I'd explore both avenues but especially the physical investigation. Maybe tumor, stroke, TBI. I'd ask others if your long-term memory has always been bad and if they've noticed your short-term memory has been lacking and you haven't noticed. Even if they don't believe you or aren't concerned, you need to discuss it with your doctors. Don't brush it off when it's something that concerns you and clearly doesn't feel right. I'm having an issue right now with uncovering things I probably don't want to find out, but it bothers me so much, I'd rather be able to know and work through whatever I need to and move on. I believe I have these feelings for a reason. Whatever I find out is going to help me heal and heal others and have a better grasp of what I need to do. I mean, it's scary when you don't know something that you've done or something that's been done to you, no matter how small it was. You can do this!! 💪🏻

Most victims, especially young, repress those memories. So its normal

yup yup! trauma especially can fuck with the way your brain stores memories. like, it literally requires your brain. it's not your fault, I can't remember most of my life

I don't remember much before I got addicted to oxy and went through serious depression. It's interesting to be around people from my past that tell me things I don't remember

i feel like my years of anxiety/depression (+ trying different medications) led to some dissociation that i didn't realize was happening until i was out of it! until a more recent med change, i didn't realize how much of the past few years i hadn't remembered

It actually has been found to be linked to memory loss and dementia down the line. Gotta love depression, just a gift that keeps giving 🙃