I have been suffering from episodes where I have memory loss over 24 hours where i forget what has happened or what I have said or done. It occurs after a period of high stress
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Q: how is memory loss connected to bipolar disease and can it get worse over time?
Answers (3)
9/14/08 4:46pm
I understand that we often are unable to remember things that have happened in mania.
I also am following with interest the research on multitasking and memory formation, since I suspect that my own failure to form memories in many cases has been due to my engagement in multiple tasks as a function of my bipolar "racing thoughts," before I was diagnosed and treated.
I look forward to all of us learning more about this subject.
All the best,
The Lady Behind The Mask
9/ 3/08 12:54pm
Hello
I was talking to my CPN about a similar thing when I was first diagnosed and put onto my medication - Lamotragine, and she said that it was due to the fact that memory is 'dependant' on the mood, and since due to the way the initail build up to stable level works I was flipping high - low so rapidly that if you told me one thing, I would forget. It is stable now, but it interesting that depending on my mood different memories come out, stuff I thought I had forgotten years ago.
I suspect that your stress could cause a change in mood, and thus your memory, but I am no expert.
10/16/10 11:12am
I am suffering from this same thing too. I don't know why it happens or if you can keep it from happening. Its scary and it just happened once again to me last night. I don't remember last night. It seems to be happening to me much more frequently now than it used to. Mine too seems to occur after major stress. Hopefully someone can answer this for us.
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By as good as it gets— Last Modified: 10/26/11, First Published: 09/02/08
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I believe the psychiatric community now recognizes that individuals with bipolar disorder and are stable still suffer from memory loss/cognitive deficiency. If you go to the Mass General Hospital clinical trial web site you will see that they are now doing phase 4 clinical trials on an alzheimers drug called GALANTAMINE. I am participating in that trial. I was diagnosed bipolar in 1990 and have suffered memory loss, as you all have, for all these years. I am taking galantamine and it is providing a definite improvement. Ask your psychiatrists about it. They may not know but insist that they investiage further. Again go to Mass General Hospital Bipolar Clinic online and you will see what I am talking about. It is going to be a wonder drug for bipolar victims suffering from memory loss as we all do. Please pass this along! S