Do you think that depression can permanently affect memory?

Hi all,
I`m not very active on the forum but I had to reply on this post because I was looking for a reply to this question for a long time. I`ve been on Elavil and Valium for 8 years. Went off of them 2 years ago after a year taper because of the decline in cognitive capabilities. From that point on all my cognitive functions became dramatically impaired to the point I couldn`t work anymore: short term memory, loss of vocabulary, logic and perception of space gone. I got stupid. Couldn`t fallow a conversation anymore, felt humiliated because I had to fake understanding what my colleagues (at work) were talking about, wasn`t sure about the accuracy of my thoughts… My personality changed because I was feeling so insecure…

I thought I was damaged beyond repair by the medication.
To make a long story short… it went on for 18 -20 months(without any break) and I am somehow sure now that it was due to depression, not to medication. I am better now, functional.
Let me tell you something I didn`t know and would have made a difference to me: all memories are there 100%. Once you get over the depression, you will find them. Short term memory is getting restored to some 85%, recall of words and association while talking 75%, perception of space 60%(I`m talking space because I`m an architect, I think normally it`s not a big problem).
Some 2 months ago, when I begun to feel better, I thought maybe I`m going manic (I am not bipolar for the time being, never had a manic episode), I thought the ``approach`` to my cognitive decline changed but the status is the same. But I can actually talk, work and recovered my old personality… I have real feelings and emotions(those too were impaired)…
Even if my depression will come back I will remember that things are coming back to normal…

If I did any grammar mistake is because English is not my native language 

I`m so sorry we have to go through this…

i had horrid problems with elavil back in the 80s.....same thing you're talking about. getting off of it helped me tremendously.

as far as improving your memory...i think i've helped mine by doing any and all "puzzles" that i find......mind tricks.....mazes...anything that "stretches" the brain. i've made a real effort and i can see a change.......also SLEEP is BIG.........xoxoxo pat

Thanks for replying zena, I appreciate it

I'm glad that your mental capabilities were restored. Your English is very good, by the way

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