What People With Bipolar Disorder Can Do to Manage Memory Loss
On the bright side, there are ways you can manage memory issues associated with bipolar disorder and lessen their effects on your life.
1. Tell Your Doctors if You’re Experiencing Medication Side Effects
While medication is crucial for most people with bipolar disorder, it can come with unwanted side effects, including memory problems.
[5]
If you feel as if the side effects of your medications are interfering with your ability to think clearly and concentrate, don’t hesitate to tell your doctor. “Not only can certain medications used to treat bipolar disorder further worsen memory impairment or lead to confusion and cloudiness in thought, but the more side effects and discomfort a person experiences from taking medication, the less likely they are to be consistent with their regimen,” Khan says.
Your doctor may adjust the dose to lessen your side effects, or they may switch you to another drug with potentially fewer side effects.
2. Begin (or Resume) a Daily Exercise Routine
One of the first things people diagnosed with bipolar disorder are typically told is that sticking to a consistent routine is an important way to keep mood episodes at bay. The part that you may not know is that making exercise a part of that routine will improve your memory on its own, but will also help indirectly by improving mood and sleep quality.
[6]
[7]
Accumulating evidence suggests that any exercise is likely to improve memory function, according to a research review. That’s great news. But even better news is that regular exercise can also reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and mania in bipolar disorder, according to a different research review of randomized controlled trials.
[8]
[9]
How much exercise is enough? It’s recommended that you get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, which can look like a 30-minute session five days per week. Activities like walking, jogging, biking, or dancing all count toward this goal.
[10]
Along with regular exercise, getting adequate sleep, eating well, and practicing stress-reducing techniques like mindfulness meditation should be key parts of your mood and memory stabilizing routine, says Lee.
3. Steer Clear of Recreational Drugs and Alcohol
At least 40 percent of people with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder will also have a substance use disorder, such as AUD, at some point in their lives, according to research. That number jumps to almost 60 percent among people who’ve been hospitalized for a manic or mixed mood episode.
[11]
There are several reasons that overlap is so strong. One factor is that people turn to alcohol and recreational drugs to cope with bipolar symptoms like anxiety and depression.
[12]
But those substances can actually exacerbate memory impairment in both the short and long terms. What’s more, they can reduce the effectiveness of prescription medications you’re taking to manage your bipolar symptoms. Substance use also increases the risk of mood swings, violent behavior, and suicide.
[13]
[14]
[12]
