[Catalyst]

I'm pretty sure I have brain damage from my untreated depression of 6 years.

But I'm scared to go get it checked out.

[Leed]

Well, I don't think that depression can actually DAMAGE the brain. There's no evidence to support that to my knowledge. I may be totally wrong tho, and I've been wrong lots of tiimes before!

I wouldn't be afraid to seekk out therapy tho. And besides, many times the brain can heal or "re-wire" itself so don't be afraid. The brain is an amazing organ! So see a therapist! He/she can fully assess you to see how you're doing. Talk to your medical doctor and he can get you a referral to a good therapist and get you in as soon as possible. The sooner the better so you don't have to keep suffering with this depression any longer than you have to.

I wish you the very best -- God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee

[agma]

Why do you think you have brain damage? Are you having any signs/symptoms?

[optimize990h]

The brain chemistry involving the serotonin levels of someone's brain can indicate depression. The whole system just related to how serotonin levels are managed is interesting. That's why exercise is important if it's cardiovascular exercises that causes the body to produces endorphins that causes the body to increase the serotonin levels to gradually help minimize depression. I have not come across information that brain damage is caused by depression. Sometimes, people are at risk for dementia if they have sleep disorder like apnea where the person's breathing become irregular and may be at the point of stopping breathing. But like all studies, answers are not in black and white when a simple yes or no is required.

[Catalyst]

Originally Posted by agma

Why do you think you have brain damage? Are you having any signs/symptoms?

I'm becoming increasingly forget full and not just names and faces but whole moments that JUST happened and where I put things and drawing a complete blank on things I SHOULD know.

[Shadow-world]

Originally Posted by Catalyst

I'm becoming increasingly forget full and not just names and faces but whole moments that JUST happened and where I put things and drawing a complete blank on things I SHOULD know.

Forgetfulness is very much part of depression. Your thinking is impaired at the moment when you feel depressed and / or anxious and concentration is difficult. This doesn't mean though that it's a permanent impairment you have.
When I feel better, I tend to remember more things and I can think more clearly.

I have often had fears about brain damage and dementia as well, but I think that's partly the result of anxiety. I don't know whether that helps.

[LucyG]

Are you on any meds? If so, google [med], side-effects, forgetfulness' and see if you get anything. Some meds like Topamax used for migraines and bipolar cause such severe memory problems that it's referred to as Dopamax by doctors. I've read that it can cause you to not remember your name.

[agma]

It is possible as there have been studies about untreated depression and Hippocampal volume loss. However, there are also many other things that could cause memory loss. I would suggest getting on an anti depressant and letting your doctor know of these concerns.

[oliamble]

Originally Posted by Catalyst

I'm pretty sure I have brain damage from my untreated depression of 6 years.

But I'm scared to go get it checked out.

catalyst there is no such evidence. We suffer from depression which could be linked to chemical imbalances in the brain, but with the proper treatment/medication all these changes are reversible and treatable. You should contact a physician soon and go through an evaluation to see which would be the best ideal treatment for you.

[InfiniteSadness]

Im afraid too i have brain damage. I feel retarted a lot. Pardon my french. Its scary.

[Bmee2]

Well it is not funny, but oh how reassuring it is to read i am not the only one who thinks and fears i have brain damage as a result of depression for so very long. Maybe the fear of brain damage is the brain recognizing something is not the way it is suppose to be.

[-jimi-]

From what I read, long term depression actually can mess up nerve cells in the brain. In some parts of the brain even kill them off. But what IS positive is that most neurons can recover, which makes depression a non degenerative disease.

Depression can cause different symptoms in different people, and back when I was at my worst, I had very little idea what I was even doing. I couldn't hold a thought in my head long enough to act on it, I didn't know how everyday kind of items worked, and once I even forgot where I lived! You can come back from that. I no longer have any problems with orientation, my math ability is back up (even if I'm very poor at math from the start but at worst I couldn't do even very basic math), my memory is fine part from what I've sacrificed to the use of benzo meds and my reading skills are way way better! My sense of time is back!

The only thing that really suffered is worsening of executive dysfunction. I've always had issues with starting an activity and follow through, I've spent tons on energy on this to keep up in the past. I feel that after my depression my basic functioning skills aren't what they used to be. It was a weakness in me before, so I guess it didn't take much for that to get "damaged". I also feel that my general focusing skills are somewhat poorer.

But my brain is back online to 90%. That is pretty good for someone who couldn't figure out if two 10s could pay for something costing 19. So there is hope.

[InfiniteSadness]

Im not sure if my brain is damaged or dsyfunctional in some way. I guess a CAT scan or such would help? (im not trying to be funny either, im concerned)

[InfiniteSadness]

how would you define brain damage?

[Hellion]

While I was in college, before I dropped out I was taking abnormal psychology and long term depression can cause brain damage. I did not particularly want to know that...but from my understanding certain parts of the brain weaken due to not being used to their full potential. For instance its hard to experiance much pleasure when depressed so that process doesn't work and eventually the part of the brain in charge of it can be damaged. Or something like that I admit thats not a very good description.

Its mostly a risk with long term untreated depression...and considering I've been depressed at least since I was 10 or younger so at least 13 years I am certainly concerned about potential brain damage. I finally started going to counseling after I attempted suicide when I was 15 and since then I've had off and on counseling that has not proved very helpful so far. And aside from trazadone that is somewhat helpful for sleep and anxiety if I am out of other options(trying to go the plants and herbs way with that). Any other meds I've tried make things worse or don't do anything.

Anyways, it would probably be best to try and get help for the depression as soon as possible. If you don't want to find out about possible brain damage you don't have to undergo the test nessisary for that....it is possible for damage to be fixed or at least reduced but the longer it occurs the harder that becomes.

I think a lot of people picture a damaging head injury if one mentions brain damage but that is not the only thing that damages the brain.

[InfiniteSadness]

is there a BIG difference between someone with brain damage and insanity?

[MuseumGhost]

For Catalyst: Jimi and Helion did a great job of outlining what I also understand to be what happens to the brain after a very lengthy, untreated, major depression. My symptoms were much like what they both described. And the memory loss was very very worrying and upsetting!

But now, time has gone by, and I've been sticking to a fairly simple regime of just Effexor, and my memory has mostly returned and as well, lots and lots of cognitive stuff (that I was secretly afraid was gone, forever) has come back to me. You do have to be gentle with yourself, and a bit patient. But lots and lots has come back to me, and I'm sure it can for you, too.

I think what worked for me was keeping my brain gently challenged, the whole while---doing something interesting and maybe even a little selfish, just to keep it ticking-over. They also say, and this makes sense, that gentle aerobic exercise, like walking, can alleviate alot of the stresses the brain is under when major depression hits---and oxygen is so good for the brain.

Give yourself a little breathing room, literally and figuratively---and if old enjoyments elude you, find something you can handle, and do it regularly. For me, it changed from reading and doing my artwork (both of which I could not even attempt), to going junking, and just getting out for short drives. I found solace in cooking; I could handle that even when I was at my absolute worst (small, uncomplicated meals).

We have to find our handholds where we can get them.

For Infinite: I think, technically, the definition of insanity covers most psychoses. Some people with brain damage could potentially develop syndromes closely resembling psychoses---it depends on the extent of damage, and which parts of the brain are affected. It would take a medical professional to assess this. Most people with any kind of brain damage suffer more with physical and cognitive complications, than emotional ones, as I understand it. (I could be wrong; I am no expert.)

Hope this helps

[Redsoft]

Brain damage is definitely not the same as insanity. It refers to actual physical injury, such as a serious head trauma or to a physiological defect to the brain from, as someone stated, lack of oxygen and such.

As someone also stated, depression can pose harm to the brain in that it can reduce the prevalence of certain important components that help make the brain function in certain areas, physically. This worsens if it is not treated, as the neurons have less chance to recover, but they can.

The parts that are generally effected by depression are the same that are important for memory and coping with stress. I believe I once read this is the area that can produce the cells for regeneration too, so it's important to strive for your own health. It doesn't cause damage, per se, but more of an impairment or disadvantage, as that area will reduce without care. Antidepressants and the treatment of depression have been proven to have reversing effects to any physical harm caused by depression in those brain regions, so aside from making people feel better psychologically, it will help you function better on a physiological scale which will make other psychological aspects better too, if that makes sense. It's all related.

Brain damage refers to more permanent damage (to be extreme, think lobotomy, not emotion). So, I would wager a guess that it is possible that certain symptoms of psychoses can emerge when there was none previously if a physical, permanent change in structure is done to the brain, but it is EXTREMELY unlikely that someone's psychoses would give them brain damage. I'm pretty sure if it got that far, there would probably be heavy medical intervention at the time BEFORE reaching that point, as symptoms would probably be "out of control."

In any case, depressed or no, if you are having serious problems remembering major things (like where you live, or things considered "elementary"), I would seek medical advice right away. Because, you never know - there may be something else that is causing it, and they could be serious and need attention or just minor and easily treatable. Personally, I don't even feel memory loss/impairment is acceptable when it's certain that it is a diagnosed side effect of a med, but that's just me - that is, if it can be stopped, why shouldn't it be...? That's another topic.

There are also other syndromes aside from depression that can cause memory symptoms, such as AD/HD, severe lack of sleep, substance addiction/abuse, and others. So, again, it would probably be very important to see both a general MD and a therapist.

[summerbreeze]

How about damage from all the meds we've tried thru the years? Bombarding the brain with chemicals designed to alter brain chemistry? Wouldn't they do something eventually?
I know my depression is at the point where existing is almost impossible. That disuse of the 'happy' part
has got to cause atrophy.
I wonder if I even have the ability to feel pleasure anymore. I have forgotten what it's like. The closest I get is when my pain/depression level is about 7.
I fear being this way the rest of my life.
I know the combo of meds, depression, pain, fatigue and the rest have altered my life. But is it forever?

[InfiniteSadness]

Originally Posted by Redsoft

Brain damage is definitely not the same as insanity. It refers to actual physical injury, such as a serious head trauma or to a physiological defect to the brain from, as someone stated, lack of oxygen and such.

As someone also stated, depression can pose harm to the brain in that it can reduce the prevalence of certain important components that help make the brain function in certain areas, physically. This worsens if it is not treated, as the neurons have less chance to recover, but they can.

The parts that are generally effected by depression are the same that are important for memory and coping with stress. I believe I once read this is the area that can produce the cells for regeneration too, so it's important to strive for your own health. It doesn't cause damage, per se, but more of an impairment or disadvantage, as that area will reduce without care. Antidepressants and the treatment of depression have been proven to have reversing effects to any physical harm caused by depression in those brain regions, so aside from making people feel better psychologically, it will help you function better on a physiological scale which will make other psychological aspects better too, if that makes sense. It's all related.

Brain damage refers to more permanent damage (to be extreme, think lobotomy, not emotion). So, I would wager a guess that it is possible that certain symptoms of psychoses can emerge when there was none previously if a physical, permanent change in structure is done to the brain, but it is EXTREMELY unlikely that someone's psychoses would give them brain damage. I'm pretty sure if it got that far, there would probably be heavy medical intervention at the time BEFORE reaching that point, as symptoms would probably be "out of control."

In any case, depressed or no, if you are having serious problems remembering major things (like where you live, or things considered "elementary"), I would seek medical advice right away. Because, you never know - there may be something else that is causing it, and they could be serious and need attention or just minor and easily treatable. Personally, I don't even feel memory loss/impairment is acceptable when it's certain that it is a diagnosed side effect of a med, but that's just me - that is, if it can be stopped, why shouldn't it be...? That's another topic.

There are also other syndromes aside from depression that can cause memory symptoms, such as AD/HD, severe lack of sleep, substance addiction/abuse, and others. So, again, it would probably be very important to see both a general MD and a therapist.

Good explanation, I think I worry because a lot of times my mind/brain is 'slow'... slow to think, process, form ideas, think clear, ect... Not sure??