Individuals with anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, or specific phobias may experience memory loss. This is due to the fact that excessive, persistent stress from anxiety is taxing on the mind and body, so memories may not always be properly stored by the brain. This symptom of anxiety may be quite alarming—but it is perfectly common.

Several studies have demonstrated the link between anxiety and memory loss. If you are interested in learning more about this link, keep reading the article to find out:

• How anxiety disorders work 
• Why anxiety may lead to memory loss

On Anxiety

Before we discuss the link between anxiety and memory loss, let’s try to understand anxiety itself. 

Anxiety comes in several different forms. Many specific diagnoses fall under the category of “anxiety disorders” in the DSM-5. 

Below, we summarize a few of the most common anxiety disorders:

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Displaying excessive anxiety or worry about a number of things, from work or school to general life circumstances. Symptoms include feeling restless, being easily fatigued, having difficulty of controlling feelings of worry, having difficulty concentrating, and having problems sleeping. 

Panic Disorder: People with panic disorder have recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden periods of intense fear that onset quickly and peak within minutes. During a panic attack, people may experience heart palpitations, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath, feelings of impending doom, or feelings of being out of control.

Phobia-related disorders: Phobias are intense fears of—or aversions to—specific objects or situations. The fear associated with the object is often much greater than the actual danger a person could be in. People with a phobia may excessively worry about the object or situation, take active steps to avoid the object or situation, and endure unavoidable objects with intense anxiety. Examples include social anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, or specific phobias (e.g. phobia of heights).  

Anxiety and Memory Loss

Anxiety mimics something called the stress response, a reaction that begins in your brain. Think about it as a sort of “fight-or-flight” reaction that occurs when you perceive danger.

When this happens, a distress signal is sent to your emotional processor, the amygdala, that interprets the images and sounds of distress. If they are considered dangerous, a distress signal is sent to the command center, the hypothalamus. 

When anxiety is induced, the threat that triggers this stress response is usually not dangerous, but the brain reacts in the same way, nonetheless. And because this stress response is triggered more often in people with anxiety than people without, the brain may become overworked, resulting in memory loss.

It is now being speculated that acute stress disrupts the process behind collecting and storing memories. Behavior Therapy found that individuals with clinically severe GAD had greater difficulty remembering childhood experiences than non-anxious counterparts, for example. Both long-term and short-term anxiety can affect memory, but individuals with anxiety disorders are at greater risk for memory loss since they experience repeated stress.

Coping with Anxiety 

Here are a few ways that can help manage anxiety on a daily basis:

• Stress management: Limiting triggers, keeping an eye on pressures and deadlines, organizing tasks in to-do lists, and taking time off for yourself.
• Relaxation techniques: Deep-breathing exercises, long baths, mindfulness meditation, yoga, and putting your phone down.

• Replacing negative thoughts with positive ones: Listing negative thoughts and replacing each one with a positive thought. Picture yourself conquering your fears and anxieties.
• Support network: Reaching out to friends, family, and professionals—like therapists—when you’re struggling is essential. It’s hard to do this on your own!
• Exercise: Physical exercise releases neurotransmitters such as dopamine into your brain that will make you feel at ease after your workout.
  

It is important to note that meditation and exercise alone cannot remedy anxiety. These techniques have proven scientific benefits, but it is strongly recommended that you use them in conjunction with a professional treatment plan in order to see good results. 

Therapy, such as psychotherapy or cognitive-behavioral therapy, are often recommended as well as medications such as tricyclics, benzodiazepines, or antidepressants to treat anxiety.

To read more posts and news on anxiety and mental health, check out the GRW blog.