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Depression is caused by faulty brain functioning. You might wonder, “Why is thinking so hard for me? What’s wrong with me? My thinking is so slow. I’ve read this paragraph 15 times, and I still can’t remember it. Am I just getting old?”
The thinking problems that lead to these questions are normal. No matter how smart or how proficient, you are there will be days when you can’t find your car in a parking lot, paying bills will feel like doing calculus, and reading a map will feel impossible. This happens because your brain is not at its best.
Being depressed is like having a broken car. You turn on the windshield wipers, and the lights go on instead. When you turn on the lights, the radio starts playing. The cylinders aren’t firing, and of course, you will always leave your keys in the car! Memory problems caused by depression can be intense and affect your work performance. You can have problems so severe that your doctor sends you for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) testing, and you might get an incorrect diagnosis.
The best way to deal with these problems is to accept that they are going to happen. Your brain is not deteriorating, and you’re not “getting old.” These thinking problems will come and go when they’re a product of depression. That means you have to be more diligent with your work and go easier on yourself.
Do you recognize any of these signs indicating you’re having trouble thinking?
A depressed brain is often a fuzzy brain. Expect it and find ways to work around it.
Roberto’s Story
I have a fishing guide business. When I have a client, I have a lot of stuff to get ready. I also have to be very careful about safety, or I could lose my license. I’m very aware of the days that are going to be tough. I have trouble using the ropes to tie up the boat, which is usually very easy for me. I think over and over again about what time the trip starts, and then worry I have the time wrong.
My trouble is organization. I have to do things in order with this work. I have to check the boat. I must have all the poles, lures, life jackets, and a lot of other little things. I provide lunch, so I have to pack that. I then have to put the boat on the trailer and make sure it’s safe. I feel like I’m doing all of this underwater when I’m scattered and down.
The first thing I do is focus on how the work always makes me feel better, and then I go over a mental checklist, which straightens out my thoughts. I can do this even when my brain isn’t thinking clearly. I can override the jumble. I specifically think of all I have to do regarding the boat, then the fishing gear, then the clients, and then getting to the site. This breaks everything into chunks, which I can manage better.
My Story
I can’t count the times I’ve lost my car in a parking lot or on the street. I walk outside to find the car and literally can’t remember where I last saw it. I remember street names, but I’m not sure if the names are from today or the day before. I see cars that look like mine, but they aren’t.
I always have trouble with directions, and it’s much worse when I’m depressed. Even if I’ve gone to a house many times, I can’t remember the exit and often have to ask for the address again. I get confused and anxious, and I certainly feel stupid. I forget appointments to the point that I double-book and then miss something important. I lost a lot of money this way in the past.
I have a day planner, but I often forget to look at it. This is not just ordinary forgetfulness. It’s much worse when I’m depressed, especially if I’m anxious as well.
What I do now:
Social Media and Technology
If trouble thinking is a normal symptom of depression, it makes sense to not add another layer of confusion and restlessness on top of that depression. And yet this is what mindless screen use can do when your brain isn’t working correctly. You think, “I’ll just take a little break and see what’s happening online.” Or, “ I’ll see what my favorite celebrity is doing or if there’s been any breaking news!” This distraction taxes an already overburdened brain. When the brain has trouble thinking, you need to reduce stimulation by reducing the places you visit online. Think of your brain as a system that needs calm in order to run smoothly. When you want to turn to the distraction in order to deal with the pain of not being able to think, focus instead on the way you will feel if you make a different choice. Simplify. It won’t feel good at first. Mindless scrolling feels better in the moment when you don’t have to concentrate on how slow your thinking feels. But remember, you’re here for the long term! Simplify.
Script
My brain often turns to mush when I’m depressed. I even have trouble coming up with words. I’ll have an idea that needs an answer and there’s a blank wall in my brain. Sometimes, it just looks like a great space. Depression doesn’t necessarily take away my intelligence. It does take away the speed, confidence, and ability to pull ideas out of my brain. If you notice that I’m having trouble thinking, the best thing you can do is remind me that it’s normal when I’m depressed. Remind me that I simply have to keep going until the thought comes. I don’t have to stop because depression is making me have trouble thinking. Instead, I have to remember that it’s going to take a long time to do the things when I’m depressed as compared to when I’m well. I give you permission to say this, “You asked me to remind you that depression slows down your thinking, but it does not affect the quality of your thinking. Give yourself time to come up with the answer you need. It might take double, triple, or even quadruple the time, but you can still get a result.” I am going to say this to myself as well.
Exercise
When is your thinking at its worst—morning, afternoon, or night? What can you change so you don’t have to do something at your least effective time?
What part of your thinking does depression affect the most?
When this happens, what are you going to do to increase your brain power?
ASK DR. PRESTON
Question
Why does depression cause memory problems?
Answer
The main problem is that people are often preoccupied with inner thoughts and worries. If they can reduce these, their thinking skills can improve. Plus, it takes energy to keep themselves thinking clearly, and people with depression often lack this energy. Thinking problems can especially spiral out of control if people constantly think and talk about how they can’t remember anything. This just perpetuates the problem by making them more frustrated.
Question
What’s the difference between depression and ADHD?
Answer
People with ADHD have very distinctive symptoms: hyperactivity, poor ability to maintain sustained attention (especially to boring or tedious tasks), being easily distracted, difficulty planning ahead, and a tendency to act impulsively. With depression, a person might have difficulty concentrating, but it’s because of a preoccupation with negative inner thinking and worries.
A second difference is in the neurobiology of the brain. With depression, there’s marked decrease in brain activity in many different areas of the brain. This isn’t the case with ADHD. With ADHD, there’s a problem with the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine activity in the frontal lobes is significantly reduced. All drugs that successfully treat ADHD work to increase dopamine activity. This is not the case with depression medications. So, people with depression can have ADHD-style thinking problems while not technically having ADHD at all.
It’s very common for thinking problems to take over without your awareness, and your tasks can significantly suffer. Be aware of what it feels like when your brain is not operating optimally and you go into strategy mode immediately.
Here are some other thoughts to consider:
Remember: Think of your mind as an old-style clicking watch. See it go through each rung. When the clicking gets stuck, you have to get the click back on track. Visualize it, and make your brain work optimally again.