Severe Depression and Cognitive Impairment

I recently went through what doctors diagnosed as an extreme case of depression.  The following are symptoms I had:

1.  Did not sleep for days during the peak point of the depression.
2. Could not read;  When I tried, I could only get a couple sentences in, and have to re-read them.  I Couldn't comprehend what I was reading.
3. Extreme memory problems; I couldn't remember what I was saying mid-sentence.  Lost things constantly, I felt as if I were in a dream-like state and days were blurring together.
4. All things once enjoyed were completely foreign to me. Music was just noise, I couldn't understand TV.  I couldn't even shower, was barely eating, and all I did was lay in bed in a panic ridden state with my mind either being blank, or racing over my problems.

All these things made me more anxious about my state of mind, and I was hospitalized as a result.  I'm on anti-depressants now, and things are better, but I still have some of the cognitive problems described above after about a month.

Does this sound like a typical case of severe depression?  My previous idea of depression was more along the lines of feeling very low in self-esteem over time.  Not a sudden onset of a mind-crippling mental illness.

Does this sound like it was just depression, or something more?

[anonymous9264]

Depression and Anxiety can have serious cognitive effects. I experienced a mitigated version of what you described with only moderate insomnia, panic, and mental impairment.

Remember depression is a debilitating mental illness like schizophrenia or bipolar or anything else. It should be taken seriously as it can cause you to lose your ability to function/think properly.

That said, the cognitive problems will improve a lot as you recover and hardly anyone experiences any long term problems with that. (assuming their depression is under control.)
Hope you can beat this hideous thing that has taken over our lives, good luck.

[anonymous9264]

Also your cognitive abilities should start to improve A LOT when you start getting proper sleep :)

[Haven62]

Hi Derek,
All of your problems related were quite like mine some yrs back. (Better now). It is like I woke up one day & could not function. My mind would race. I could not eat nor stand the smell of food. (I lost over 40 lbs. in 8 wks) could not sleep over 45 mins. & had to sleep outside for some reason. A friend had the same thing earlier & could only sleep in her garden. I slept by the pond (when it was lightly snowing) so YES it is serious. I could not read or write legibly. Became afraid of ME. Finally got help & put on anti depressants. In about 2 to 3 wks, I started to feel much better. But, the underlying problems usually need to be dealt with. I had to see a counselor. Serious depression like that, where your mind overrides your own mind--you know what I mean I think) is ultimate self hatred I have read
Alot of people become medication independent after therapy. I had chronic dep. & anxiety (so did my father) and I still have to take meds. Now under control.However, initially after a time, my meds had to be increased so if you start to feel not as alert again, you may need an increase because they usually start off with a low dose. As for the lack of happiness, I had a  husband and children and pets I loved but with this, I sat in a chair, getting out of pjs was too much work & figured I would just die. I did MAKE myself eat a half a bowl of cereal (dry) and half a grapefruit each day. I don't know why but that's all I hate until I got help. I am so glad you got help for this early.  I still believe hell could not have been worse than what I was going thru. God bless. He loves you.

[Haven62]

I forgot. alot of people said, "oh I had that. I felt so low" and they're still functioning. That is "feeling depressed". feeling depressed and having depression are two entirely different things. One is a feeling. One is an illness. A HUGE difference. and life threatening at times.
GB

[spikerusty]

sounds like that your illness causes a significant slowing down of your overall thought processes as it's called psychomotor retardation. This can be quite frustrating as your speed of thought processes is significantly laboured and slowed down as sufferer of which I am one,sufffers diffciculties in all aspects of their life as the depression affects all aspects of it. This begins to effect how they function at work and their abilty to interact with others as things become such an effort that you cannot remember people's names and things. It sounds that your depression was quite severe in that it caused that much disability for you in your life. Glad to hear that your coming through this most likely with the support of meds and those who support you around you as being in that state can be very emotionally painful and difficult, as you feel totally removed from who you know yourself to be. Big difference is right