The human brain is such an intricate, complicated and complex creation. Trauma victims constantly find themselves unable to remember certain aspects of a terrible or terrifying event. Many times, they completely dissociate themselves from it, and they’ll even act as though it never occurred.
This can cause a lot of confusion for the families of trauma victims. They desperately want to help, but they don’t know how to intervene. You may be able to relate to this phenomenon if you have been, or suspect you have been a victim of a trauma.
An Example of Altered Traumatic Memory
Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk gives an excellent example of this method of expressing trauma. In his book, The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma, he talks about a woman by the name of Irene.
Irene worked outside the home while caring for her mother, who had been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Her father was an alcoholic, and so, he was really of no help to her. Irene’s job served to cover the costs of her mother’s medical care and support both of her parents.
One night, Irene’s mother passed away. She tried for hours to revive her. She would try to give her medication, and she repeatedly called her name. Her father lay in the same room, passed out from being drunk. Irene remained in denial even after the body fell off the bed, and a family member arrived to begin preparations for the funeral.
In the months that followed, Irene would stare at the empty bed and move around the room as though she was taking care of her mother. She didn’t remember that her mother had died, and she felt as though she needed to act out what happened that night.
The Role of Triggers
In Irene’s case, the empty bed triggered her actions. Because of this, the remainder of what she did happened automatically. She had no control over what she was doing. She was frozen in time, and she was unable to move on.
It took a great deal of therapy for Irene to be able to verbalize what had happened. Once she had been treated, those memories came back. They were painful, but once she could verbalize them, she was able to start processing them in healthy ways. Her treatment was what allowed her to move past automation, recover from amnesia, and let go of her need to re-enact what had occurred.
Perhaps you’ve been dissociated for a long time. Maybe you feel as though you can’t remember certain events from your past, but you feel they’re controlling what you do in the here and now. Even if you don’t realize it, you could be a victim of trauma. If you are, you need to be treated so that recovery can take place.
I can help you begin the process of healing from trauma. Contact me today to make an appointment.
