Wondering how many of you have memory loss related to your bipolar depressive or manic episodes.

In terms of short term memory loss...I've just recently felt well enough to start cleaning up the physical messes associated with my last mania. It lasted about nine months. As I go through things, I find memories triggered. It's sometimes devastating--especially since the things I've forgotten are things I wish I never remembered. I imagine that might be fairly common. It was a stressful and traumatic time that saw no shortage in the use of alcohol and illegal substances. These are something I don't use when well but can seem to procure and portion in mass quantities when ill.

Also, I'm encountering long term memory loss. For example, I could not remember how to use Google docs although my files indicate that, in the past, I did it all the time. It took literally months of practice to relearn that skill. and it's not that hard!

Is this common? Or should I be contacting my neurologist? Or maybe a third choice? It is common but I should still be contacting my neuro?

What's your experience? What are your thoughts?