Before we get started with today's episode. I just want to say that I really enjoyed recording these podcasts. And if you enjoy listening to them, we both have anchored a Thang. If you haven't heard about anchor it's the easiest way to make a podcast. First of all, it's free second of all their creation tools that allow you to record and edit your podcast right from your phone or computer and anchor will distribute your podcast for you. So it can be heard on Spotify Apple podcasts and many more the cool thing is you can make money from your podcast with no minimum listenership. It it's everything you need to make a podcast all in one place download the free anchor app or go to Anchor dot. F m-- to get started does bipolar disorder affect memory. Let's talk about it. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world indeed. It's the only thing that ever has Margaret Mead. Hi. My name is Ethan and I suffer from bipolar disorder addiction anger issues body dysmorphia and morbid obesity. In fact at my heaviest. I was north of 650 pounds growing up. I never felt comfortable asking for help or being vulnerable. My goal is to create a space where you can feel safe enough to be vulnerable and shake the Negative stigmas that are attached to mental health. Let's be vulnerable and give others the strength to do the same. Let's talk about it. So I don't know what part of the series this is going to be in but I want to have a series of I basically want to show you what my research has looked like as of right now. Today is December 30th 2019. I have still not been diagnosed officially with bipolar disorder. I've just done a lot of research on my own. So what the process looks like is it starts out with a question in today's question is does bipolar disorder affect memory. Can it create memory loss. Can it change memory bipolar disorder and memory is what we're if we Focusing on today and then the rest of the process is just doing research taking that question and expounding on it as much as I can. So I have found an article medical news today. We're going to go through it. We're going to I'm going to read it and then I'm going to talk. I'm going to compare what they talk about in the article with my experiences My Hope with this bipolar series one is to show you guys how I've done my research. Like I said, but to also just kind of normalized bipolar disorder. I know there's a lot of people out there that still don't understand it that don't understand why are friends or family or loved ones act the way they do so my goal is to better help. You better understand what bipolar disorder looks like not only from a research standpoint, but from my perspective. So here we go. The link for this article is going to be in the show notes. If you want to follow along just a quick disclaimer. I'm not a doctor. I'm not a psychologist. I'm not trying to diagnose you. I am simply reading an article and comparing it to my life and my experiences. You think that you have bipolar disorder or depression or anything like that? Please reach out to a medical professional because I am not one. I'm just speaking from my experience. So this article in medical news today its title is how does bipolar disorder affect memory people with bipolar disorder can experience dramatic alterations and mood and activity levels sleep disruption and a range of other features and behavior patterns. The disorder may also affect the way a person thinks. Thanks, and possibly their memory for some people with bipolar disorder poor memory and difficulty concentrating can make it hard to function in everyday life including it work and when studying, however, this is not true for everyone the authors of a 2012 study have pointed out that one of the key features of bipolar disorder is the wide range of potential ability that exists among people with the condition affects on thinking and memory some people with bipolar disorder may find it hard to think too. Reason and to remember things changes in thinking that can occur as people go through the different phases include so the different phases being manic neutral and then the depressive phase changes in attention span and focus. Yeah. I've noticed that racing thoughts during a high or manic phase my one of the one of the ways that myself and my father know that I'm manic is I just I will talk and talk and talk and talk and jump from subject to subject anxiety difficulty remembering things and in some cases psychosis, including delusions and hallucinations. Let's go ahead and look at psychosis for a minute. What is psychosis broadly speaking psychosis means a loss of contact with reality. It's a symptom of a number of mental illnesses rather than a medical condition in its own right? Here are some key points about psychosis more detail and supporting information is in the main article psychosis is A disease on it's in its own right? It's a symptom a common psychosis. Excuse me. A common psychotic delusion is a belief that the individual is an important figure. Earlier diagnosis of psychosis. It improves the long-term outcome. Okay, so there's an article but we're not going to go into it. Let me do a quick scan the classic signs and symptoms of psychosis or hallucinations hearing seeing or feeling things that do not exist delusions false belief, especially based on fear or suspicion of things that are not real disorganization in thought speech or behavior. One of one of my red flags as that my room gets disorganized and my room Discovered is a direct representation of my mind disordered thinking jumping between unrelated topics making strange connections between thoughts difficulty concentrating and going catatonic the milder initial symptoms of psychosis might include feelings of Suspicion general anxiety disorder did perceptions depression obsessive thinking and sleep problems. All right. So there's a quick bite on what psychosis is back to the main article studies report that some people with bipolar disorder. I have complained of memory impairment during High moods low moods and times in between as a person's mood shifts. They may report changes in their memory to as the mood becomes more extreme memory problems can increase how does mood affect the brain and memory scientists have suggested that some people with bipolar disorder experience memory problems due to changes in the brain. These could involve changes in the prefrontal cortex, which plays a role in planning attention problem. In memory among other functions the hippocampus which plays an essential role in storing memories and the anterior cingulate cortex. Hopefully I'm saying that right which has links in both emotional and cognitive function in the brain image tests have shown that as a person's mood shifts variations and the way the blood flows into corresponding areas of the brain also occur. What that is fascinating that's incredible. So there's actually a shift in blood flow depending on where someone with bipolar disorder is in the cycle if they are depressant or if they're in a depressed stage a manic stage or neutral stage. Oh, here we go. Memory types. Some people with bipolar disorder may find they face challenges with different kinds of memory functions. Here are some of the types of memory where problems might occur working memory this Stores information for a short time while person carries out mental tasks verbal learning and memory this enables us to remember the words. We see or hear executive functioning. It's vital for planning and prioritizing tasks declarative memory is necessary for recalling and explaining the past events spatial working memory enables people to recall shapes colors locations and movements. Okay. So this is really really interesting. I want to I want to focus on this for a second working memory. This stores information for a short time while a person carries out mental tasks. You can ask any of my co-workers. I am horrible horrible horrible horrible at directions at remembering how to get to somewhere like we could be in a 55 and over Community placing a house and I could get lost in that community. So that's interesting verbal learning and memory this enables us to remember the words. We see or hear. I don't really have many problems with that. Actually. No, I take that back. It depends. Like names, for example unless I'm paying very very very very close attention to someone when I meet them and they tell me their name. It's usually gone it's there and gone executive functioning as vital for planning and prioritizing tasks. I am honestly the last person you want planning an event declarative memories necessary for recalling and explaining past events. So this I think is where I have the most trouble I think when my mind is affected the most is right. Here because like I said the majority of my childhood, especially when I was on crazy crazy mood swings the majority of my childhood. I don't remember, you know, my dad and I will sit and we'll talk about these moments and every once in a while, I will grab you know, Mom I'll be able to reach out and grab a memory, but it's very fleeting and I can't recall it without some kind of Aid whether that's from my father or like a scent or something like that. I'll give you an example. So I was at work the other day and I was talking to One of my crew members and I know his name and I know that I know his name, but I said his name and in the moment where I said his name, I thought to myself. Oh, is that his name even though while I was questioning if it was his name or not? I knew that it was his name. Hopefully you guys followed that I realized that could be incredibly confusing and that was that was let's see. I don't know when this is going to be released. But that was while I was on a little too weak eating Off plan thing and I was As I was leaning more towards the manic side of my bipolar disorder, I did notice and I've noticed things like that in the past before like I my best friend's name. I've I have forgotten my best friend's name. I've looked him in the face and forgotten his name, which is really really strange spatial working memory enables people to recall shapes colors locations and movements There You Go locations. I'm horrible at navigating like I get made fun of almost every day because I'm so bad at navigating at work. What does the research? Say a 2017 systematic review found that people may experience changes in the working memory processes of update and recall both during and between episodes of bipolar disorder. This can make it hard for people to function and work or study a study published in 2007 found that some people who experience psychosis and bipolar disorder may have difficulty with executive functioning this can affect their ability to plan or carry out tasks other researchers have ribbed impairment in executive functioning as a core dysfunction that some people may experience when they are between high and low phases people with bipolar disorder who experience psychosis are more likely to experience problems with verbal declarative memory and spatial working memory compared with those who do not have psychosis. This can make it hard to recall and retell events and stories from the past. Okay. So this article is even saying that there are connections between psychosis and losing In certain types and parts of memory treatment and memory the changes that occur with bipolar disorder may affect a person's memory, but some of the treatments for the condition can also have an impact. So this would be interesting because I'll be honest. I haven't really looked into much into the treatments for bipolar disorder. So let's continue the first treatment they talk about is lithium. I have heard things about lithium. I've heard some good things and I've heard some bad things. I want to things that I've heard about lithium is that it kind of keeps you in a A neutral state so neutral that most people just kind of walk around and just don't feel anything which is terrifying to me because I've been there and I wouldn't want to take medication and induce that lithium is an important treatment for bipolar disorder newer drugs may also impact a person's cognitive ability. However, more studies are needed to confirm how these drugs affect thinking and memory if a person finds that a drug is affecting their memory. It's essential to speak to a doctor before stopping the treatment they may be able to offer an Our option electroconvulsive therapy. If a person has severe symptoms that do not respond to other treatments a doctor May recommend electroconvulsive therapy or ECT research published in 2017 suggests that ECT is safe and effective for people with severe symptoms of bipolar disorder and any phase of the condition so manic depressant or neutral. Let's go ahead and dive deeper into what ECT electroconvulsive therapy is because I am curious - what's to know about electroconvulsive therapy electroconvulsive therapy is safe controlled is a safe controlled procedure for depression and other psychological disorders that have not responded to other treatments a small amount of electrical current is passed to the brain in order to cause a brief seizure depression affects around 15 million Americans making it the leading cause of disability in the United States, but can be hard to treat between 60 and 70% of people with major depressive disorder respond to antidepressant medications. Sure, convulsive therapy may help people for whom these and other treatments have not been effective. ECT is given under anesthesia in both outpatient and inpatient Hospital settings between 70 and 90 percent of patients experience a rapid Improvement in symptoms. It may also help people who are acutely ill with Mania psychosis Catatonia agitated dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder and Suicidal Thoughts fast facts on ECT. Here are some key points about ECT more details in the main article. The American Psychiatric Society APA has established clear guidelines for ECT. Use ECT is considered safe for pregnant women adolescents and older people. So basically everyone positive results can be seen in as few as one or two ECT treatments around 100,000 people a year receive ECT in the u.s. Symptoms improve and seventy to ninety percent of patients. There's no reliable evidence of long-term harmful effects. It's electroshock therapy. It's Really what it is. Here we go. ECT formerly known as electroshock therapy has been used to treat several psychiatric conditions since 1938 since 1938. We are still using a quote-unquote treatment for depression that we were using in 1938. Before we had a better understanding of what was going on. Why are we using such antiqua time? Okay, so that's electroshock therapy is one of the other treatments if a person has severe symptoms that do not respond to other treatments a doctor May recommend electroconvulsive therapy ECT research published in 2017 suggests that ECT is safe and effective for people with severe symptoms of bipolar disorder and any phase of the condition. This is where we left off out of 522 people with bipolar disorder who Not responded to other forms of treatment 2/3 had a positive response to ECT including almost eighty one percent of those with catatonic depression. However, one possible side effect of the treatment is memory loss scientists have raised concerns about the impact on remembering things that happen before the treatment forming new memories after the treatment remembering personal facts and events verbal and working memory, but for some reason this is a widely popular. Tool that we use for people with bipolar disorder and other mental issues these impairments continue to affect people when they were between high and low moods more research is needed to find out exactly how ECT affects a person's memory. However, for people who experienced severe bipolar disorder the benefits of this treatment may still outweigh the risks. Here's my problem. We've been using electro shock therapy since 1938 since 1938. It is 2019. In 2017 when this was written, I guess why why do we still need to know medical reviewed by medically reviewed by Timothy J. Leg PhD see rnp on February 19th 2019. So this was reviewed this article was reviewed by a doctor this year why if a technique that has been used since 1938 widely been used and on over a hundred thousand people a year according to this article. Why are we still sitting there questioning what's actually going on? Why haven't we figured these things out see this this this right? Here is a big part of why I'm doing what I'm doing because nowhere in this article does it say hey cut out sugar and carbs and you know, your life will improve know where the two treatments they talk about our ECT electroconvulsive therapy and lithium back to the article living with cognitive challenges. Not every one of those with bipolar disorder will experience problems with memory, but some people do early diagnosis and good medical management may help to minimize these In those who are at risk if a person is having difficulty with short-term memory the following tips may help record all appointments and contacts on a smartphone. Yeah. Okay. Keep a book to record things that you want to remember for right? The first two things is write things down. Nope. The third thing is write things down. Nope. The fourth thing is write things down. The fifth thing is write things down. The sixth thing is have a special place to keep important things like he's glasses and wallets. I will definitely back that up. I have a key hook that Mikey's go on and I have a drawer that my wallet and my knife goes in every day. And as far as possible establish a routine, including regular bedtimes and meal times. This will also help maintain healthy, excuse me, healthful sleeping and eating habits. So 1 2 3 4 5 the first five things on this list of How to help with short term memory loss is write things down. Like no duh here I will read this entire list record all appointments and contacts on a smartphone. Keep a book to record things. You want to remember for example a recording of spending make it to do list each week or keep a wall calendar with space to write on Stick Post-it notes with reminders by the front door or other Stitch strategic places. Keep a chalkboard. For example in the kitchen to write reminders on the first five things is write stuff down back to the article knowing what Facts bipolar disorder can have on a person's ability to think and remember and understanding that mood changes are not the only feature of the disorder may make it easier for individuals and their families to manage the many challenges that bipolar disorder presents. And then we have an overview bipolar disorder a person who receives a diagnosis of bipolar disorder will have the condition for the rest of their life there currently is no cure. However, they may not always experienced mood alterations or show obvious symptoms symptoms often emerge Sometimes between the teenage years and the 30s the mood cycles and the symptoms vary between individuals one person may have more depressive symptoms while another one has mainly manic episodes a manic episode can involve the following a high sense of self-esteem or belief that the person is very important. Yep. Been there done that difficulty sleeping. If you've been following me for any length of time on Instagram, you know, I talked I haven't talked about it in a while, but I talked a lot about insomnia. And in fact, I take a sleep aid which is why I haven't talked about it and Talking more than usual with a rapid flow of speech the jump suddenly between topics. Yep racing thoughts. Mmm being easily distracted 100% moving quickly from one focus of attention to another. Yeah risk-taking behaviors such as reckless driving or shopping sprees. That's a big one that second one is a big one. A lot of people don't understand that people with bipolar disorder when they're manic spend a lot more money than they can during a low mood. The person may lose interest in activities have no pleasure in things. They usually enjoy be unable to focus sleep more or less than usual believe something terrible is going to happen or has happened talk about think about or attempt suicide. I've done all of those things. Some people may become some people may become completely inactive or catatonic if a person speaks about or attempt suicide or if they become unable to move or react someone should seek urgent medical help. For the person in either phase a person may experience psychosis involving delusions hallucinations or both they may hear see or smell things that do not exist or believe that something is true when there is no evidence that it is the cause of bipolar disorder remains unclear but genetic biochemical and environmental factors probably play a role stress May trigger an episode and using alcohol or other substances can make the symptoms and the impact of the condition worse. There's a reason I don't drink guys. Let's go all the way down to Outlook some people with bipolar disorder experience impairments and memory and thinking although this is not true for everyone memory problems baby may be more likely to develop if the person's symptoms are severe or if they experienced many manic episodes psychosis or both. Anyone who shows signs of bipolar disorder should seek medical help treatment including medication and counseling can help a person to overcome the challenges of this condition. So that is the article for medical news today reviewed by Timothy J leg with two G's PhD see rnp on February 19th of 2019 written by Marcus McGill. Like I said, the link will be in the show notes. What's really really frustrating is again. There's nothing in there about diet. I know that one of the one of these episodes in the series is going to be bipolar disorder and sugar because that is been a very big thing for me. And then the other frustrating thing is they only talk. Yeah, they only talk about two treatments. I think with this series we're going to see a big problem or a big part of the problem when it comes to the American Healthcare System. We would much rather treat these symptoms and not the problem. One of the really cool things that I got from this article was where it was talking about how the image testing has shown that during the mood shifts the way that the blood flows to the brain can change as well. Like that's that's really cool. And that definitely shows, you know, if part of the Gene that controls memory is starved for blood is starved for oxygen it start for what it needs to be able to do its job then yeah, obviously it's not going to work that well, I really hope that this has helped someone makes sense of what's going on in their head or make sense of what's going on with one of their loved ones or one of their friends again. I am not a doctor. I'm not here to diagnose you. I'm simply reading an article and talking about my life. If you notice that a lot of these things resonate with you or if you are questioning whether you have bipolar disorder Or not please reach out to a medical professional because I again am not a doctor. I'm not a medical professional. I'm just a guy that has spent a lot of time trying to figure out what's going on in his own head. I'm gonna go ahead and end this one the way that I end all of them. You should already know what I'm about to say, you are beautiful you are worth it. And as long as you are willing to put the work in hope will always be there. Until the next one.
I have had problems with my memory in the past, I wonder if it has anything to do with my bipolar disorder. Let's Talk About It. Bipolar Disorder and Memory   Just a quick disclaimer. Things I am not: A doctor A dietitian An expert A specialist Things that I am: Someone who has lost over 300lbs over the last nine years Someone who proudly labels himself as a gym rat Someone who is willing to be completely transparent in hopes of helping others realize they are not alone in the fight. Someone who is hoping to help others using the tools I have developed from my own experiences. I am so incredible grateful for you giving me time out of your day, if anything I have said touches you or brings up thoughts or topics you'd like to discuss or you'd like to be a guest on our podcast, the best place to reach me would be on Instagram @Depressed2Determined. I'm sure they would all appreciate it! You are beautiful, You are worth it, and as long as you are willing to put the work in hope will always be there! 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255  ---   This episode is sponsored by  · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. 