Repressed Memories Anyone?

Question:

I had a dream about a year and a half ago that I believe unlocked a memory. I know that this really happened, but I can't believe it is something I just "forgot". It's really messing me up, I haven't been the same person since I had this dream. I never thought I could go through something like this. Has anyone else suffered from this?

Answers:
Some people....even some psychologists, tend to believe that "it's only logical" that the more important, or the more terrible the event, the *more* likely we would be to remember it. I mean.....one could certainly believe that that might indeed be the case.

At the same time, several studies have shown that the more upsetting or overwhelming the event, the *more* likely it is that our minds will find a way to protect us from it, and the damage that might be caused if it was in our consiousness all the time. Especially if it was something that happened when we were a child, and even less able to make any sense, or emotionally tollerate, what was being done to us.

However, even people with the best of memories...people who have seemingly not forgotten an abusive event, can have some pretty innacurate memories of what happened.

So what I am getting at is.......yes, it's quite possible that something happened, and it was "forgotten" as a means by which your mind kept you safe from the overwhelming emotional impact it might have had. And that something in your life later triggered that dream.....and as a result, you recovered a memory relating to an event that had been lost from your waking consiousness for all that time. It happens, that's for sure.

But given the nature of memory itself.....it's possble that what you remember is not fully accurate in all it's details.

In an attempt to resolve this, the way I look at it is this :

Sure as hell **something** really bad happened, even if should happen to be not exactly what you remember.

And that's the agknowledment that probably counts most.

Because it's highly unlikely that you would find yourself this upset...and for this long....over something that was.....some kind of total mental fabrication. I think you can be pretty certain that *something* happened that is both close in theme, and just as emotionally terrible as your ongoing reaction to the memory is telling you that it was.

Have you thought of seeing someone who specializes in trama ?? There are more and more therapists who feel a calling to work in this area, as folks have more and more come to realise just how many people have suffered damage from traumatic events like those you remember.

I hope you will feel OK about getting some help with this ??

And not try and convince yourself that it's nothing ?

Bob

Other Answers:
It happens quite frequently. Its called a response to something that happened to you that was so stressful, that your mind shut it out and hid it from you. It happens quite frequently in patiens who have been abused, neglected, starved, or beaten. I suggest you see a psychologist if you have the time and money, they can help you with this.

Just so you know ... It sounds like you are trying to sell yourself on the legitimacy of this. Some times dreams will seem just like real memories ... these are often false memories.

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Repressed Memories Anyone?

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