Stress can be a part of everyday life, but in some cases, stress disorders occur where the stress is no longer manageable. Temporary memory loss can occur when a person suffers from a stress disorder, or even with everyday stress. Understanding how and why this memory loss occurs can make it much less frightening.
Stress
Stress is defined as emotional tension in response to a fearful or distressing situation. Stress also includes the physical symptoms associated with this tension. Those under stress tend to have a negative outlook on the world. Extreme stress can even lead to depression in some cases. Stress is often used as a synonym for anxiety, which is somewhat inaccurate, but appropriate in some cases. The main difference is that anxiety does not account for the physical symptoms of stress.
Everyday Stress
Everyday stress occurs as a result of everyday responsibilities like work, school and housework. While under stress, it is incredibly common to forget small things like where the keys are. Sufferers may even have trouble remembering the events leading up to setting their keys down making it hard to retrace their steps. The reason for this is because people under stress have difficulty concentrating. Since their focus is elsewhere, little parts of the day can be completely forgotten.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
People suffering from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are constantly overcome with feelings of stress and worry. Eventually people with this disorder can no longer focus on anything else but their anxiety. Their thoughts become paralyzed and it is difficult to concentrate. It is for this reason that memory loss can occur. Like with everyday stress, focus is lost and it is hard to remember small things. In addition a person suffering from GAD may be so concentrated on their anxiety that they can even have temporary trouble recalling long-term memory.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after a person has experience or witnessed a traumatic event. The way the memories of this event are stored in the brain of a person suffering from PTSD causes them to relive these memories over and over. Some people suffering from PTSD may have trouble remembering anything else other than the traumatic event. These other memories are not gone, but the person with PTSD has temporarily lost access to them.
Managing Stress
Serious stress disorders like GAD and PTSD require psychiatric help and in some cases medication. For people suffering from everyday stress, there are a few ways to relax to help reduce stress. Meditation is often used to help reduce stress. Yoga is another popular tool for stress reduction. The most effective way to relieve stress is for the person to take time a few times a week to do something that they enjoy.
Tags: suffering from, some cases, everyday stress, memory loss, under stress, anything else