is memory loss reversible from anxiety?

[tonyttll]

About 39 days ago after smoking a cigerette i felt really light headed,out of breath, and heart was pounding. Afterwards i felt really spaced out and noticed that my concentration and memory was not working as well. Every afterwards for about 2 weeks i noticed my short term memory and thinking abilities were getting worse. I finally got a mri and eeg which came out normal. I have had severe anxiety for15 years and ocd. Plus i've been under extreme stress for the past 4 months straight. So i'm wondering if this is caused by stress, if so  is it permanent or will it come back and how long can i expect this to get better?

[tonyttll]

I've been on almost all anxiety meds. The antidepressants usually make me alot more anxious and feel weird. I was on klonopin for 3 years but got dependent and had one of the worst withdrawl experiences. I've taken resperdal,neurontin, etc....... I use to have panic attacks its been  a while but this seems different. What ever happened its really made me spacy and has affected my memory severly and thinking abilities. Its been a month and a half with no relief. I don't remember panic attacks effecting me like that. I have read when your really stressed the body produces to much cortisol and either affects or damages the hippocampus which is the memory center of the brain. As you can see i've had some time on my hands and have done some research. I'm also a hypochondriac,but i'm just so baffled that my brain function has been so compromised. Maybe my disorders kind of left untreated without meds ultimately caused this. But i just need hope and need to get those abilities to cope and move on with my life you know.

[remar]

So you do have some depression going on. Can I ask what meds you were on before, where they just for your anxiety, or were they antidepressants? I'm asking because antidepressants can not only help with depression but also anxiety. I really don't think you had a stroke or anything like that. I do believe you had a major panic attack. That what it sounds like to me anyway. I understand how scary it can be. When I had my first one I thought I was going to die. Even though I still have them every great once in awhile I still feel like there's something seriously wrong with me, but there is'nt. I've also been through the same this as you as far as feeling fine for a long time and then having that weird anxious feeling for a long time.  

[tonyttll]

I'm 28 and i have not been on meds for about 7 years, i usually get really spaced out and weird side effects. I've been therapy on and off for about 3 years which has helped. I'm going to see a therapist on wednesday, and a pshychiatirst next week. I'm always aprehensive at taking meds but i'm desperate enough to give them another try. I've never been diagnosed with depression, i have ocassional bouts of depression because of how anxiety has disrupted my life. Ever since this happened i've been depressed, but i don't think in the clinical sense. I was worried maybe it was stroke because these symptoms came on so suddenly. But my tests came up clean. But even if it is anxiety usually my symptoms go up and down, and don't stay the same.Hopefully consistent therapy and maybe meds will help and i can recover from this because i can not work with my brain at this function level.Thanks for responding

[remar]

Have you been diagnosed with depression also? Many times depression and anxiety go hand in hand. I'm asking because yes, anxiety can cause some memory problems but depression can make it even worse. I see that you have OCD and that can also cause memory problems because you can become so focused on one thing. Are you seeing a Dr right now for your anxiety and OCD? Are you on any meds. Sorry for all the questions but the more info we have the better we can help.

[tonyttll]

I sure hope so, because its been a very uncomfortable and a hopeless feeling. Anyways thank you for your advice, take care.

[remar]

I my opinion, it can definitively be caused from too much stress. It sounds like you had a full blown panic attack. I think the memory problems are because we get so focused on the anxiety. Things should get better when you get your stress level down. Hang in there, okay.