Bipolar Memory Loss: Causes of Manic Blackouts & Amnesia

What Is Bipolar Disorder Memory Loss?

In bipolar disorder, there are many types of symptoms people can experience, such as depression, mania, and bipolar psychosis. These symptoms can impact memory or create thought disorders because brain processing changes during these episodes. Mood changes and psychosis can impact perception and lead to a lapse in the ability to remember things as they occurred.

These high and low bipolar cycles can create a blackout or brain fog and prevent someone from accessing memories. Bipolar  cycles impact the prefrontal cortex, which is involved with memory, problem-solving, and attention. Additionally, they can affect the hippocampus, whose job primarily supports memories and the emotional brain.

The impact of bipolar disorder on memory is the same as rapid cycling bipolar or post-partum bipolar disorder. However, someone experiencing these conditions may spend more time in one area of the mood spectrum than the other. It can be hard to come down gradually after a manic episode, and many people tend to crash, so recognizing your own behaviors as symptoms of bipolar disorder can be beneficial in staying grounded.¹

Symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

• Depression
• Racing thoughts
• Anxiety
• Bipolar psychosis
• Poor attention/focus
• Bipolar anger
• Impaired judgment
• Loss of control
• Rapid changes of high energy/mania to low energy/crippling depression

Types of Memory Affected by Bipolar Disorder

The brain requires attention to form memories, and bipolar disorder can impact attentional processes. The hippocampus is responsible for encoding and accessing memories. Bipolar disorder impedes this as it compromises the hippocampus’s efficiency and effectiveness.

Additionally, the prefrontal cortex works with the hippocampus to help manage emotions, which are often heavily tied to memories. In bipolar disorder, this part of the brain may be less active, thus making it challenging for those with bipolar disorder to access, form, and recall memories. Bipolar disorder’s impact on the brain and memory is similar to how trauma can cause memory loss.²

Bipolar disorder can inhibit certain types of memory and cognitive processes, such as:

• Working memory: Working memory is a type of short-term memory that one uses to do day-to-day tasks
• Verbal learning: Verbal learning helps us remember how to communicate and listen
• Executive functioning: Executive functioning encompasses the tasks necessary to maintain your daily life
• Declarative: Declarative memory helps us to recall memories and situations from the past
• Spatial working memory: Spatial working memory helps us to remember physical spaces, shapes, and locations
• Sensory memory: Sensory memory is a type of short-term memory based on one of the five senses
• Long-term memory: Long-term memory stores knowledge and memories from years past
• Short-term memory: Short-term memory is a smaller storage container of information that can be easily accessed³

Bipolar Amnesia & the Brain

Bipolar’s impact on brain structure can also impact memory formation. Memory impairment can come from symptoms that lead to poor attention and challenges with perception.

Bipolar disorder affects areas of the brain associated with forming and storing memories, such as the:

• Hippocampus: The hippocampus is in charge of learning and memory
• Thalamus: The thalamus is in charge of the motor and sensory signal highway
• Prefrontal cortex: The prefrontal cortex works to regulate emotions, actions, and thoughts
• Anterior cingulate cortex: The anterior cingulate cortex manages decision-making, motivation, and error monitoring
• Gray matter: Gray matter helps to process and share new information
• Neurotransmitter balance: Neurotransmitters carry messages between cells, essentially serving as small delivery vehicles traveling throughout the brain⁴

Treatments That Impact Bipolar Memory Loss

Some bipolar treatments can impact brain functioning in the hopes of better emotional regulation. There are physiological changes that these treatments cause that may lead to impacted memory for those with bipolar disorder.

Mood Stabilizers & Bipolar Memory Loss

Mood stabilizers improve bipolar symptoms by impacting dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels in the brain. Lithium impacts the brain in the same way. However, it comes with other side effects that further impact memory. Lithium helps to improve spatial working memory and learning, yet it can dull the creativity in the brain.⁵

Can Electroconvulsive Therapy Lead to Bipolar Amnesia?

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can treat bipolar disorder and is typically chosen as a treatment approach when other treatment interventions don’t work. While the goal is to improve bipolar memory issues, one side effect does include impairing memory in another way. Some individuals struggle to form new memories and have brain fog around their communication ability after treatment.⁶

How to Minimize Bipolar Disorder Memory Loss Issues

There are bipolar medications and treatments that can reduce the frequency and intensity of manic and depressive episodes’ impact on memory impairments. While medication intervention is helpful, it is important to know that people can also manage memory loss by understanding their disease. Certain medications can help to improve brain fog and memory issues as a result of treating underlying issues. Additionally, personal lifestyle changes can be made to mitigate the impacts of bipolar memory loss.⁷

Below are seven techniques to help manage bipolar memory loss:

1. Record/write down essential reminders: Journaling apps are a great way to keep track of your days and help you recall high moments
2. Make to-do lists: To-do lists help you stay organized in what you must accomplish for the day or week
3. Use sticky notes: Using sticky notes can help you remember important details or tasks.
4. Understand triggers: Knowing and understanding why you are triggered is critical to managing the triggers
5. Have a routine: Following a routine is a great way to fall back on remembering your tasks
6. Engage in mentally stimulating activities: Playing memory-enhancing games and spending time with others and in nature can help to improve memory
7. Talk about your experiences: Sharing your experiences and emotions is a great way to reexperience them and help you further establish them as significant memories

When to Get Help for Bipolar Disorder & Memory Loss

Bipolar-induced memory loss can deeply impact a person’s life. It can impact a person’s ability to carry out their daily responsibilities. It can also cause tension in the relationship because the individual with bipolar disorder may lie in an attempt to cover up the problems their memory loss is causing.   is better to see someone when you feel you cannot manage your symptoms alone. Therapy is a great way to learn about your condition, your triggers, what your symptoms mean, and how to manage them. 

Cognitive behavioral therapy for bipolar disorder is a highly beneficial therapeutic intervention. It helps to change our thinking so the following actions align with our intentions instead of old patterns and habits. People with postpartum bipolar disorder, bipolar psychosis, or rapid cycling bipolar may be at a higher risk of memory loss, requiring more immediate medical attention due to the underlying issues which persist with those diagnoses.

The best treatment for bipolar disorder combines psychotherapy, medications, and working with your support system to help you stay accountable. If you are looking to find the right therapist for bipolar disorder, you can search an online therapist directory or look through the many online psychiatry options available.

Final Thoughts

What you’re dealing with is unique, but you’re not alone. While memory loss associated with bipolar disorder can be detrimental and seem out of control,  it is possible to manage its progression and impact. Working with a therapist and having a sound support system can make a big difference in how you feel and function.