Tag Archives: Affects

Short Term Memory : Depression Affects Memory

Article by Harrisonatlee

Medical researchers and psychiatrists use words like self-focus and cognitive priming which don’t really mean a lot to the layperson. What these studies are concentrating on in simple terms is the impact of depression on memory. Those who have depression in Pittsburgh, PA often discover that depression causes a lot more than just feelings of sadness. It also can impact memory.

When Forgetting Is a Symptom

Every person has 3 types of memory: short-term memory, working memory and long-term memory. You also have a memory retrieval or recall function.

Short term memory – memory that is retained for a short period of time but eventually is lost (which is why you can’t remember what you did last Friday)

Working memory – memory that actually enables your brain to use information or to send processed information to long term memory; it’s a bit like a scanner or processor that collects information, uses it to form a response, solve a problem or transmit a solution and then either discards the answer or stores it for later recall

Long-term memory – memory that endures for a long period of time

When someone is experiencing depression or extreme anxiety in Pittsburgh, PA, the brain is so focused on sadness, feelings of low self-esteem or other negative emotions, that memory is severely impacted. It can make it difficult to handle even small routines that are part of normal daily life which can deepen depression.

Thinking Clearly is Not Possible

Professionals studying and counseling those with depression in Pittsburgh, PA have learned that difficulty with memories is a symptom of a deeper problem in the cognitive process in that the brain literally becomes so overwhelmed with emotions that it affects the ability to think. There may also be physical reasons associated with neural functioning, and that continues to be studied.

Depression can impact all types of memory and the ability to recall. You find you are unable to:

Remember normal repetitive routines Pay attention to what people are saying or what is going on around youConcentrate Retain informationLearn new information Retain new informationRetrieve information once easily recalled like birthday dates

In other words, the depression rules the brain. Since it is ruling, the memories that are recalled may be distorted or only the negative emotions or incidences recalled.

The more difficult it is to recall the memories, the more depression deepens. It can be a never ending cycle that spirals downward.

Recognizing Memory Difficulties as a Symptom of Depression

We tend to think of memory loss as a normal part of aging, but memory loss due to depression is different. It’s different because it creates a situation that perpetuates the depressive state. It’s not a permanent memory loss, but it’s a worrisome symptom that can be self-perpetuating.

If you know someone that seems to have unusual memory loss that is accompanied by other symptoms of depression, then it’s important to encourage the person to seek counseling for depression in Pittsburgh, PA. If you recognize that your memory problems are not typical for someone your age then you can seek help. Inaction is a much bigger problem than temporary loss of short term or long memory.

If you are interested to read more about Anxiety Pittsburgh, PA and Depression Pittsburgh, PA then please visit our website www.positive-pathways.net










Roulette Software Which Actually Works, Converting Like Crazy!
Online Casino Programmer Leaks Software Which Is Used To Break Roulette. This Software Turns The Cards On Online Casinos, Giving Players A Massive Advantage!
Roulette Software Which Actually Works, Converting Like Crazy!

Short Term Memory : A Look At Short Term Memory Problems and How It Affects Learning

Short term memory problems can significantly impact learning new information or retaining new events in a person’s life. The ability to function in the present and future can be drastically altered if a person has severe limitations in short term memory. The question is what, if anything, can be done to help a person with short term memory loss.

How you get short term memory loss can vary greatly. For some it is due to aging. For others it could be the side effect of various drugs that they are using. Head injury, stress and depression also reduce short term recall and cognitive functions. Stroke can damage sections of the brain involved in memory as well.

Extreme short term memory loss is usually the result of head trauma or a progressive disease like Alzheimer’s or dementia. There have also been cases where radical brain surgery has removed the ability of a patient to hold information in short term memory, but those cases are rare.

Studies on memory and learning show that short term memory problems can be a factor in a person’s ability to learn new things. Short term memory is usually the starting place for processing information, events ,etc. into our long term memory storage. If a person has issues utilizing short term memory then they will often have problems with learning facts, names, figures, etc.

Diagnosing short term memory problems can be tricky. It usually involves both physical and psychological testing to determine the root cause. How you get short term memory loss is important in how it is treated of if treatment is even possible.

Obviously if the root cause for the short term memory problems a person faces are due to drug side effects or stress then changing the drugs or reducing the stress will probably bring an improvement in recall and a boost in learning.

If the root causes is injury or trauma then usually only time and letting the body heal itself will determine if any ability to recall is recovered or maintained. Learning new things will probably be a struggle during this process until the brain adjusts and is able to either heal or adapt to the damage…assuming it is not too severe.

Extreme short term memory loss will usually inhibit the learning process permanently. There are some prescription drugs that can help with recall issues caused by Alzheimer’s or dementia, but they often have troubling side effects of their own. Certain natural supplements containing things like Ginkgo, Ginseng, huperzine A as well as B complex vitamins have shown some promising results in recent studies. In fact some studies directed toward natural remedies and Alzheimer’s treatment determined that some supplements geared for memory protection and enhancement worked as well as prescription drugs in certain patients, but without similar side effects.

The studies also indicated that supplements can help with the issue of how you get short term memory loss. They noted that use of certain herbals can help stimulate neurotransmitter production as well as the protection of those brain chemicals from age related decline. Herbals have also demonstrated an ability to maintain memory function and protect nerve cells from damage due to free radicals as well as helping the brain adjust to stress without reducing function.

For those who’s short term memory problems stem from injury or trauma using memory aids such as writing things down or using repetition can help compensate for reduced recall, provided that the person retains at least some function. This may help people continue to learn and retain information while injured, but requires more time making the learning process slower than normal.

Depending on the cause of the recall issue, there is hope for some that learning can continue. The brain is a mysterious organ though and much more is still needing to be discovered about how it works. Continuing research on brain function and remedies for memory loss are helping bridge that gap, but it is still a long road.

J. Wall has an avid interest in natural remedies for the treatment of memory loss. He is a regular contributor to the Memory Loss Remedies section of http://www.memory-enhancement-guide.com, a site dedicated to improving mental ability and cognitive function.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=J_Wall