Episodes of Memory Loss. Could it be Migraines? Anxiety? Depression?

Posted , 2 users are following.

Okay, so this is a long one. Over a year ago now, I started having these weird "amnesia" episodes. One minute I'd be perfectly fine, the next I'd forget what I was doing, where I was going and anything that happened recently. I'd look through old phone messages and remember none of it. These attacks would usually last around 20-30 minutes. 

Naturally, I went to the doctor to see what the heck was happening to me. Initially, they thought I might have some form of epilepsy and I was put on medication almost immediately. I had multiple blood tests, EEGs and MRIs done, all of which, thankfully, came back perfectly normal. Physically, I'm perfectly healthy. However the attacks kept coming. 

I remember around the time the attacks started, I would quite often have these negative thoughts. Thoughts about death, how my life is going nowhere, how old I'm getting etc. I've always been quite an anxious person, but it'd never been that bad. Often times the negative thoughts would just come out of nowhere, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop thinking about them. I'd also get these completely random, nonsensical thoughts that make no sense that disappear as soon as I try and think of them. Weird.

A few months ago, I finally came off the epilepsy medication, and it was one of the hardest thing's I've ever done. Anxiety was at an all time high, I was extremely emotional (I'm quite an emotional person anyway, but this was ridiculous) and it was a struggle to get through the day.  

Thankfully the Anxiety faded after a few weeks or so, and for a while, I was back to my happy, normal self, and the attacks seemed to lessen in severity.  

However, recently, the anxiety has started to come back. It's nowhere near as bad as when I came off the medication, but it's there. For almost a month, my attacks stopped altogether, I was feeling happier and was getting on with my life. However I've since had more attacks and feel like I'm back to square one.  

I guess my main questions would be: could this be some form of migraine? My Dad suffers from migraines and apparently a lot of the symptoms (minus the memory loss) sound like migraines.

Could it all be Anxietyrelated? Could these attacks I'm getting be anxiety attacks? Can anxiety attacks cause you to lose your memory like that?

I do have one more EEG scheduled now that I'm off the epilepsy medication, and after that I'm due to see a psychiatrist. That could take a while though... 

So that's pretty much why I'm here! If anyone knows what this could be or has suffered through something similar, I'd love to hear it. 

Thank you in advance.

1 like, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • Posted

    Anxiety can cause many problems, your GP has scripted medications for Migraine and you have now come of the medication, I would think the medication has been withdrawn to allow them to check your EEG. It would also seem tour GP is not convinced it is Migraine and has advised a course of treatment from a Psychiatrist. To consider checking your condition out, if it is Depression, Anxiety or Migraine.

    One problem I have here is I do not know your age and that could be a marker your GP is picking up. So you need to be patient and get all your results.

    If you are in the UK when you go in for tests ask for a copy of  any reports sent to your GP this will help you become more proactive with your health concerns. This is part of your rights, it also means when you get this copy you can be confident that the GP will have His copy as well. Make your appointment and take along your results. You will then be informed before your appointment

    BOB

    • Posted

      Oops, sorry. Forgot to mention my age. I'm 30.

      Thanks for the advice, I'll be sure to ask for a copy of the reports. 

      I'm probably just being paranoid, and it wont be anything to serious. I just keep getting these thoughts of "What if the MRIs missed something? What if this never goes away? What if this turns out to something super serious!?" which I'm sure is only making things worse. It's just a little scary when you suddenly can't remember what you were doing or what day or even month it is. 

      Thanks again,

      Ollie. 

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