Anxiety can cause memory loss due to the release of stress hormone cortisol, which can slow communication between neurotransmitters. Memory loss is usually related to difficulty concentrating or remembering short-term items, but significant memory loss should be addressed with a doctor. Practicing relaxation techniques, attending counseling, or taking prescription medication can help prevent anxiety and memory loss.
The connection between anxiety and memory loss is that some of the side effects that come with experiencing frequent anxiety can lead to memory loss. When an individual experiences anxiety, the stress hormone cortisol, among others, is released. This stress hormone serves a necessary purpose in daily life, allowing you to respond quickly to dangerous situations and make hasty decisions. If it’s released steadily in the brain, however, it can begin to slow communication between neurotransmitters, leading to more frequent anxiety and concomitant memory loss.
Anxiety and memory loss are very common, but keep in mind that this is usually related to difficulty concentrating or remembering short-term items. The often used description is a “brain fog” sensation. Significant memory loss, such as an inability to recall names, places, or other long-term details, should be addressed with a doctor right away, because it could be a sign of a more serious problem. The connection between anxiety and memory problems typically isn’t permanent, and if you get treatment for anxiety and start to feel better, your ability to focus and remember things should return pretty quickly.
As mentioned above, anxiety and memory loss typically manifest as an inability to concentrate. You may find that it is difficult to listen to a presentation at work, or that you can read an entire paragraph or page of an email and not remember anything. Then, when you try to recall the facts later, it will seem like you have a memory leak. In truth though, memories were never created in the first place because it was impossible to focus on the information transmitted to the brain. Persistent stress, even if it doesn’t seem accompanied by anxiety, can have the same effect.
Panic attacks can also cause memory loss because they are so overwhelming as they occur that it is nearly impossible to focus on our surroundings. Practicing some relaxation techniques, attending a counseling with a psychotherapist, or taking prescription medications to reduce anxiety are all options for preventing anxiety and memory loss. You may also need to mindfully practice concentration techniques to keep working and learning new things while experiencing anxiety; this can include tips like reducing distractions, taking deep breaths during frequent breaks to go for a walk or do some exercises, and trying to do tasks in small, manageable portions rather than all at once.
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