Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

8,884 Members

129,554 Posts

0 Online

AK32 04/07/2013

So, anyone else out there experience massive confusion and memory lapses, or difficulty concentrating as part of their bipolar disorder? I've been having this problem recently. Yesterday, I got up to find the bearded dragon's warming lamp turned on and i had NO memory of turning it on. and I KNOW i had turned it off the night before. Also, somehow the cat food dish had made it downstairs mysteriously, and i don't think either of my kids did it, because i walked them down the stairs in the morning. I have been having a hard time listening to what others are saying to me, mainly because i want to be doing four things at once, so having to focus on only one thing (someone speaking), has been exceptionally difficult. Also, since i do always have to be doing four things at once, but i keep jumping from task to task in the middle of things, which gets everything all jumbled up....
I've been meeting with PA weekly to monitor my meds. How much of this is the disease, and how much of this is the meds???

deleted_user 04/07/2013

Really depends. It can be both or a combo of both. The only way is to keep track over time.

However, don't over think things, cause even "normal" people can be like that at times. I don't know how many times well meaning people think I am having an episode when it is normal stuff. If my misplacing my car keys means I am having an episode, then I need to be in the hospital forever, LOL.

saddestangel7 04/07/2013

I have the same problem. Entire events just vanish. Whether it's a conversation I had with my son or physical doing something just as you mentioned with the beardie's heat lamp. I used to have one.

Now, if someone claims I said something I don't argue about it because I most likely did. My neurologist adjusted my Topamax, one of 3 meds I take for seizures. Said it has a bad reputation for causing memory problems but it didn't have any affect and I had to go back to my old dosage because of breakthrough peti mal seizures. In the end he said because I'm on so many meds that my memory won't get better.

Least I don't have to worry about getting senile. I'm part way there already.

irishwriter 04/07/2013

i.know.my.kids.try.to.tell.me.we.had.whole.conversations.i.have.no
recollection.of.it.sucks.i.normally.have.an.incredible.memory.very
frustrating.

loum50 04/07/2013

I've always had a problem with memory, but I have dissociative disorder from years of abuse as a child. I do think my memory has gotten worse from the Lamictal. Someone tells me something and 5 minutes later I've forgot about it. It's becoming a real problem at work. I've lost time for many years and can't put things in order by time.

deleted_user 04/07/2013

When I get like that and I do, my paranoia runs wild at the same time.

DivineSilence 04/07/2013

OMG yes. So much so right now that I am losing my job because I can not do the job I have been doing for 6 years. I stare at my work completely confused and have no idea where to even start. I forget to do things I have been doing weekly for 6 years. Mine is a result of a 6 month long mania and currently mixed states.

deleted_user 04/07/2013

I really understand what you are talking about. I have always had a bad memory but this is intense. Hang in in? Mention this to your psych doc

AK32 04/08/2013

thanks everyone for your replies. yah, i definitely am experiencing some similar things to u all....appreciate your friendship and support....

nickpc20001 04/08/2013

I misplace clothes all the time and I will also put on some tea and forget it's on and it will all boil out. I am sure that my use of benzo's "that are known for short term memory problems" is the cause of it. I don't think loosing your memory is part of the disease.

deleted_user 04/08/2013

I agree that it could be a number of things. Topomax especially makes people ditzy, and so can lamictal (I got really spacey on lamictal). Extreme stress can do it, so can recovery from a major episode. Sleep deprivation of course.

deleted_user 04/08/2013

KLONAPIN WITHDRAWL IS BAD

deleted_user 04/08/2013

No your not the only one, its the damn meds.

dancingd 04/08/2013

All of the above

Join the Conversation