cont. from

Can I believe my memories?

At this time, there is no completely accurate way of determining the validity of abuse reports without external corroboration, and that kind of corroboration is often impossible. Many things -- questioning (especially of young children), suggestion by a trusted person, even the recounting of a traumatic experience in therapy -- may influence the accuracy of abuse memories. Even people who have documented corroboration about their abuse may have inconsistent elements in their stories.

Nevertheless, trauma specialists such as Harvard's Dr. Bessel van der Kolk believe that "the body cannot lie." If a person spontaneously sees a flashback and feels terrified, the feeling can be trusted, especially before an implicit memory has been discussed and possibly contaminated. If the person has the symptoms of PTSD, or a dissociative disorder that is known to be associated with a traumatic history, then it is likely that there are real traumatic experiences in the person's background. Unless one is preparing for a criminal investigation, the exact authenticity of a specific memory may not be important.

It is the job of the individual to figure out his or her own life history. Many people with post-traumatic stress or dissociative disorders have found it helpful to gather information from siblings or other family members to help them understand their memories.

What can I expect from therapy?

A therapist can help by showing a person how to put these memories in the context of other psychological symptoms, and guide them in the process of getting on with their lives. A good therapy situation is a collaborative effort in which the client can feel comfortable taking the lead; a competent therapist may inquire about but generally does not suggest an abuse history. Uncovering memories is only one step in the process of healing from trauma. Other therapy goals may include learning to live with feelings, handling anger, dealing with cognitive distortions, ending a cycle of repeated victimization, etc.

A client should feel comfortable about the relationship with a therapist, and feel free to make decisions about the direction and pacing of treatment. A good therapist is willing to be flexible. Ultimately, the decision about whether or not specific memories are valid is the responsibility of the client.

If you have been diagnosed with a dissociative disorder or PTSD, it would be most helpful to see a therapist with a specialty in these areas. Names of therapists who have experience treating trauma survivors are available through the Sidran Foundation. To practice their specialty, therapists should have a license from the state in which they work. If you have doubts about the progress of your therapy, seek a second opinion from a well-credentialed expert.

What about hypnosis?

The use of hypnosis in trauma therapy is quite common and careful use of hypnotherapy can be helpful but it also can be problematic if used imprudently. Many people think that memories recovered while under hypnosis are more valid than memories retrieved under other circumstances. However, research has shown that hypnotically-retrieved memories may be more prone to distortion.

One of the best uses of hypnosis in trauma therapy is for stabilization: to help a person focus on tasks of daily functioning, and to manage the pain of traumatic memories. People with dissociative disorders often find hypnotherapy helpful in fostering cooperation between dissociated parts or alters.

The uncovering of forgotten memories needs to occur in the larger context of treatment for psychiatric distress or disability. For some people, hypnosis may not be necessary at all. It is, however, generally not appropriate to use hypnotherapy as a "digging tool" to find out if a person has been traumatized.

Any client whose therapist suggests the use of hypnosis should be an informed consumer and ask about the purposes of this type of therapy. A good therapist will get informed consent (preferably in writing) from a client before beginning any course of treatment, including hypnotherapy. This means that before hypnosis is used, the client will be informed of the purposes, benefits, and risks of, and alternatives to this type of treatment, and will (without coercion) agree to its use.

What do I do if I can't remember?

Not all abuse or trauma survivors can clearly remember their traumatic experience/s. Some individuals have only a vague recollection of "something" happening; others can't recall anything traumatic occurring in their lives at all.

Even before you begin to tackle the issue of traumatic memories, the first critical aspect of your therapeutic work will be to stabilize your current functioning. Memory loss related to traumatic experiences may serve as a protective function, which should be respected. "Digging up" the past will not alleviate your current difficulties. There is no such thing as a "quick fix" or "skipping steps" when it comes to healing from trauma. Without first establishing the necessary framework for a healthy lifestyle and level of functioning in the present, the challenges of coping with and integrating memories of past trauma may further add to your current difficulties and symptoms. Therefore, it is highly valuable to first work on your present life issues, the problems that you can more readily identify and address.

This will provide you with a solid foundation for further therapeutic work dealing with possible traumatic memories. If you are struggling with memory disturbances related to trauma or abuse, it is important for you to know you are not alone in this experience and you are not "going crazy."

Here are some helpful things to keep in mind:

Recognize that there is a reason for your current difficulties; your "symptoms" are meaningful. They did not come from nowhere. Trust in your own process and timing. Find a treatment provider with whom you can establish a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship. Just as it takes time to build strong foundations of trust and deep roots of connection in relationships with others, so too must you establish these elements internally to strengthen an inner connection within yourself. This will greatly support the work you do both therapeutically and individually.

next: From Traumatic Memories to PTSD

References

American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition.

American Psychiatric Association (1993). Statement on Memories of Sexual Abuse.

Briere, J. and Conte, J. (1993). Self reported amnesia for abuse in adults molested as children, Journal of Traumatic Stress, 6: 21-31.

Freyd, J. (1993). Theoretical & Personal Perspectives on the Delayed Memory Debate. Moving Forward, Vol. 2, No. 4.

Family Therapy Networker, September/October 1993. Special Feature: The False Memory Debate. Vol. 17, No. 5.

Herman, J. L. (1993). False memory debate: Social science for social backlash. Harvard Mental Health Letter, Vol. 9, No. 10.

Herman, J. L. and Schatzow, E. (1987). Recovery and verification of memories of childhood sexual trauma, Psychoanalytic Psychology, 4: 1-14.

Loftus, E.F. (1993). The Reality of Repressed Memories. American Psychologist, Vol. 48, 518-537.

Perry, N. E., (1993). Memory Research: A Complete Bibliography.

Van der Kolk, B. (1994). The Body Keeps the Score: Memory and the evolving psychobiology of post traumatic stress, Harvard Review of Psychiatry, Vol. 1, No. 5.

Williams, L. M. (1992). Adult survivors of childhood abuse: preliminary findings from a longitudinal study. The Advisor, 5, 19-20.

next: What is PTSD?

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Reviewed: 04/2006