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Sep 01, 2009, 08:46 PM
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Member Since: Jul 2009
Location: Phoenix, AZ, USA
Posts: 2,779
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chasinblue
I haven't been able to find much information about how/if PTSD effects a person's concentration and memory.
I'm *always* forgetting things... it's as if things don't even go into my brain, they just bounce right off my head. Even important things that I need to remember.... I just can't.
Same goes for reading. I have to re-read things over and over and over again.
I can't concentrate on anything. My thoughts just drift away. This happens all the time.
Is this typical of PTSD?
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I have had PTSD and depression. By far, the depression was the one that interferred with memory the most for me. The pdoc told me it was because concentration is so bad during severe depression that things never get into your head in the first place so they are not there to "remember".
With PTSD, if anxiety is unusually high, you won't concentrate well. I was always hypervigilant so I tended to remember things better than I did when I was depressed. But concentration is affected with high anxiety.
One other thing: I took opiate pain relievers (vicodin and occasionally percocet) for some disc problems in my back over an extended length of time. Now, THOSE definitely interfered with concentration and memory. Now that I've had those problems fixed and no longer take the pain meds, I really notice how much they were effecting my memory.
Best thing is to do like Catherine2 said and ask your docs so you can be sure and then get some help to improve it. 
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 Vickie
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