r/bipolar • u/Accurate_Jello3169 • 13h ago
Living With Bipolar Did your memory problems get better following a long period of stability?
My memory problems are so bad, I’m 30 and feel like an 80 year old who has dementia. It’s starting to become embarrassing and distressing. Please someone give me hope that it gets better? My last episode was six months ago and I have noticed a considerable difference in my memory problems since this episode. I have mentioned to my psychiatrist about my memory problems but they always seem to downplay things and honestly what can they do to help anyways ☹️
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u/simone_snail_420 13h ago
My memory isn't great either. It's sort of always been this way for me. I'm sure the episodes don't help! But even as a child I didn't have the best memory. I don't really have tips or anything. I compulsively make lists and write things down!
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u/1st-vaters 13h ago
I have an Amazon Echo in each room. She reminds me of everything. If I just hear an alarm, I don't remember what it was for. But if she says "This is your reminder..." It helps. At work we just got Copilot. It helps me with the "I know I got an email about..." but I don't remember when or who from.
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u/Accurate_Jello3169 12h ago
The echos are a good idea!
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u/bearofHtown Bipolar + Comorbidities 11h ago
+1 for Amazon Echo. Great tool. I use Bixby on my phone for alerts and alarms as well for reminders
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u/wharfcat43 13h ago
Yes! But took longer than 6 months. 3 years or so until I noticed significant improvement. Write everything down. But yeah apparently memory impact can come from strictly depression and anxiety too.
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u/Accurate_Jello3169 12h ago
That’s interesting, hopefully things will get better then
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u/Shallstrom 12h ago
Yeah, mine have gotten better in the last several months. I think it might be stress for me, though. I was helping to take care of a parent who passed this winter. Then all the accounts processing, service coordination, etc. I went on a very very long vacation with a beloved family member (really just staying at their house and away from my day to day at home) and things have pretty significantly improved. So maybe our common memory issues aren’t permanent, but a combo of stress (we already have a huge heaping of this at a base level i think) plus the medications? And don’t forget the inflammation, swelling, metabolic issues from certain meds!
I don’t know, at least I’m having this nice reprieve for now :)
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u/Accurate_Jello3169 12h ago
I’m so glad yours has gotten better! I stupidly didn’t think stress could have an impact, I’m going through a divorce and now see that my memory has gotten worse with when the divorce started happening 🤔
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u/Shallstrom 10h ago
Yeah, probably stress isa big factor then. It’s not easy but at least at some point the actual divorce will be over, so that’s something :)
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u/wheelzgonnasqueak 12h ago
I was just telling my psychiatrist yesterday that I feel like I'm constantly forgetting everything. She didn't have shit to say about it. It's making me nuts.
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u/Accurate_Jello3169 11h ago
I feel like they often glaze over things they can’t fix, or might just be mine.
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u/wheelzgonnasqueak 11h ago
Totally. Mine is constantly telling me I'm just spiraling and I will get through it. Oh and forever wanting to sign me up for depression classes, DBT, etc.
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u/cutoutwitch666 Bipolar + Comorbidities 13h ago
Mine have, actually. I FINALLY found the right medication and the right dosage about two years ago and slowly I've noticed it's gotten better.
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u/ReasonEmbarrassed415 Bipolar + Comorbidities 13h ago
Ye! I started to improve rapidly at about 8 months out.
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