Amnesia occurs when you have difficulty remembering experiences and people. This also includes finding it difficult to remember things you have learnt in the past. For some people, it could make learning new things hard in the future. In this article, I will go over the different types of amnesia. It is important to check with your GP over symptoms you are having.
Amnesia is something that can be caused in many ways. For example, having a head injury, ageing, going through traumatic events, developing a brain tumour and more can be a factor for this. Having too much alcohol is another big factor that could cause amnesia, or korsakoff’s syndrome.
The symptoms of having amnesia could be finding it difficult to learn new things, having trouble trying to remember past events, or childhood memories, and being confused. This can depend on what type you have, as many have different symptoms. In some cases amnesia is a situation that can fix itself, as you could get your memory back, or could find a way to avoid different triggers. However, for some serious cases, there are not yet any treatments found. You can find rehabilitation methods, and prevention methods that could aid you. It is best to consult with your GP or a specialist, as they will know the best course of action to take.
Anterograde amnesia
Anterograde amnesia means it is hard to remember things that have happened to you recently. You are still able to remember old memories, and it can be caused by being struck in the head. In most cases, it is permanent, and the situation can become worse as time goes on. At the moment, there are no current cures, but you can find different rehabs that can try to relieve this as much as possible.
Retrograde amnesia
Retrograde amnesia can come from a disease built up, or an injury you may have suffered. Being unable to remember things that have happened in the past (recent past), partially or completely, could be a result of having retrograde amnesia. There are treatments you can find that can aid in the recovery for this, as it is mostly not permanent.
Dissociative amnesia
Dissociative amnesia can either last from a couple of days, to a couple of years. It is when you are unable to remember information about yourself or who you are. Dissociative amnesia can be caused by something traumatic that has happened. Although you slowly recover your memory, your mind sometimes may not recover completely.
Selective amnesia
Selective amnesia is when you forget certain moments in your life. Psychiatrists may use this in order to help a patient heal from a traumatic event. A benefit of this is it could relieve your depression, or anxiety that has come from a point in life or moment. This is done using Electroconvulsive Therapy.
Small electric currents are sent to the brain, and cause a seizure, which can change your brain chemistry. Mayo Clinic (2018). Mayo Clinic. [online] Mayoclinic.org. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/.
Infantile amnesia
Infantile amnesia is when you are unable to remember things from when you were younger. This could mean memories, or different moments in your childhood you can not remember. This is not as serious as it takes place whilst you were younger, meaning the brain is still maturing. It could also be since it was so long, you simply may have just forgotten.
Transient Global Amnesia
Transient Global Amnesia is when you are unable to remember something that has happened a couple minutes ago. This is something that is more common with the elderly. This is a smaller form of amnesia, but also makes it harder for the person to remember things in the future. There are different causes that can set this off. Exercise, or different types of physical activity, a sudden change of temperature (going into hot/cold water), and more. Although, there are no treatments for this, it is not something that is too serious, as it is a mild form of amnesia. The best way to be in control is to have support from someone, who can help you. They can also find out what triggers your memory loss, and find a way to prevent it.
Dementia and Amnesia
Amnesia and dementia are not the same thing. Amnesia is often caused through head injuries, or a traumatic event. Dementia on the other hand, can be caused through many different diseases like Alzheimers, which is a type of dementia. Both dementia and amnesia have similar symptoms like difficulty remembering things that have happened, and difficulty learning new things. However, dementia also affects your mood, and obscure memories. In terms of treatment, there is no cure for dementia. There are treatments you can find to relieve some symptoms of dementia. With amnesia, there are different types of therapies and rehabs you can go through, which can help treat the brain. Also, in some cases, you are able to remember things over time.
Dementia is essentially in most aspects a worse condition than amnesia, and it is important to understand the difference between these, and seek help, if you experience any of these symptoms.
Conclusion
In conclusion, amnesia is something that is extremely serious as it can not only affect your past memories. It also makes it harder for you to remember, and learn new things. I went through the causes for it, like having a head injury, or becoming traumatised from an event. Also, I went through different symptoms and treatments for it.
I then went over different types of amnesia, and the different effects it could have over you, as they all could affect you differently. Finally, I went over the differences between dementia and amnesia. This included the difference in causes, as dementia is often caused by other diseases like Alzheimers or Parkinson disease. The symptoms were similar, except dementia had worse consequences, and fewer treatments.
If you feel you are suffering from any symptoms, or match any of the causes given, it is imperative you look for help, and let a specialist know.