Does Trauma Cause Symptoms of Memory Loss?

Introduction

The advancement in psychological understanding of our minds has revealed important information about how trauma can affect us in a lot of different ways that might not always be evident on the surface. Trauma can cause psychological damage that can affect the way we think, function, and live our lives, depending on the extent of trauma inflicted.

Trauma can shape our memories and cause loss of memory or permanent memory loss. As a defense mechanism, trauma teaches our brains to suppress events that trigger a stress response. This allows individuals to live their lives without having to deal with constant reminders of their trauma. A severe car accident is a good example of memory loss. Although the car’s occupants are present during the accident, our brains are busy trying to keep us alive instead of forming new memories.

How Does Trauma Affect Our Brain?

Trauma has a profound effect on different areas of the brain. Here are some of the notable effects of trauma noted in trauma victims:

1. Alteration in Hippocampal Function: The hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in memory, is often smaller in people with PTSD. This shrinkage is linked to memory problems and is seen in various groups, like Vietnam veterans and childhood abuse survivors.
2. Increased Amygdala Function: The Amygdala is another part of our brain responsible for processing our emotions and our responses to them. Fearful conditions elicit increased amygdala function, which allows us to react to fear accordingly. However, post-trauma, the Amygdala elicits this response even without danger. This can interfere with the memory function controlled by other brain parts.
3. Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction: The prefrontal cortex is one of the brain regions that controls executive functions such as attention and memory. Trauma tends to decrease the functioning ability of the prefrontal cortex, causing memory impairment. According to research, exposure to traumatic stimuli results in decreased blood flow to the prefrontal cortex and decreased activation of brain signaling.
4. Increase In Stress Hormones: Trauma causes an increase in the baseline levels of stress mediators in our brain. These are mainly cortisol and norepinephrine. Several studies have demonstrated an increased level of these hormones in trauma victims, implicating a causal relationship.

How Does Trauma Affect Our Memory?

According to the National Library of Medicine, traumatic stressors such as early trauma can lead to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which affects about 8% of Americans at some time In their lives, as well as depression, substance abuse, dissociation, personality disorders, and health problems. Additionally, in research conducted on people who survived traumatic events such as childhood trauma, the Holocaust, and war, different memory impairments were recognized. Of these, the most common ones were verbal declarative memory function and dissociative amnesia. 

Verbal declarative memory is the type of memory that allows you to recall and communicate information using words. This includes your everyday experiences, the things you learn, and how you describe things you see. It includes two main types:

1. Semantic memory: This is your memory for facts and general knowledge about the world, such as knowing that Paris is the capital of France or that a dog is a type of animal.

2. Episodic memory: This is your memory for personal experiences and events, such as your last birthday party or vacation.

The latter is usually affected by trauma survivors. Adverse childhood experiences, such as a family member showing up drunk at your 4-year-old birthday party, may affect your long-term memory.

Memory issues like dissociative fugue essentially form gaps in memory regarding a certain event or experience. They are considered the mind’s way of protecting itself against traumatic memories. Individuals suffering from this kind of memory loss may forget essential details around the event or the entire event while perfectly remembering the events before and after.

Psychological trauma can trigger memory loss as a defense mechanism against distressing emotions associated with trauma. Chronic exposure to traumatic experiences, such as alcoholic and/or drug-addicted parents, sexual abuse, or domestic violence, can lead to emotional memory suppression as a survival strategy.

Apart from this, physical trauma, such as a severe head injury that causes traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury due to abuse or car accidents, can cause physical and permanent damage to parts of the brain controlling memory function. Often, extensive blood loss that reduces the blood flow to the brain can also permanently damage brain function, causing brain damage and leading to memory impairment. This memory loss can be more severe and include permanent memory loss for past and current events.

PTSD and Memory Loss

PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a serious mental health condition that is characterized by symptoms of fear, flashbacks, nightmares, and increased avoidance following a traumatic event.

Symptoms of PTSD include memory loss in a couple of different ways:

1. It can affect the general memory of daily life. This can be described as brain fog or short-term memory loss. Such individuals may experience increased forgetfulness or a decrease in their working memory.
2. Secondly, individuals with PTSD often experience a memory lapse concerning the traumatic event itself. While they may get vivid nightmares or abstract flashbacks, they will have difficulty remembering the actual details of the event.

How To Deal With Memory Impairment Following Trauma?

Recovering from trauma can look different for everyone. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to recovering memories that are suppressed in response to trauma. 

Often, the focus should be on healing from the trauma itself. Resurfacing the memories should be of secondary concern and attempted at a pace the individual feels comfortable with. The memories can often come back on their own after a certain time or exposure to a trigger. However, these memories can be distressing, warranting professional help. 

Here are some of the best ways you can deal with memory impairment after trauma:

1. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, is an essential tool that helps individuals recognize negative or intrusive thoughts and work towards changing them into more positive ones. It is goal-oriented and mediated by a professional therapist who will guide you through the process and teach you behavioral changes that can aid your recovery.

2. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing 

EMDR is a type of psychotherapy that is most often used in the treatment of PTSD. It helps individuals process and integrate traumatic memories that are causing distress. 

The idea is to recall the traumatic event in a new manner with simultaneous stimulation that causes desensitization from the event. This way, the individuals can eliminate the fearful response associated with the memory. It also helps them replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

3. Dialectical Behavioural Therapy

DBT is a type of cognitive-behavioral therapy that is particularly effective for people who have difficulty regulating emotions. It helps individuals find a balance between two opposing ideas, unlearn negative behavior surrounding a particular emotion, and learn more effective and positive coping methods. 

4. Medications

Certain medications, such as antidepressants or sleeping aids, can aid one’s recovery from trauma. However, these are prescription-only and must be prescribed under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. Medications primarily help deal with symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. They do not heal the underlying cause of the problem.

For this reason, medications are considered more effective when used in conjunction with therapy.

Other Coping Mechanisms

In addition to getting professional help, you can try other methods to help you deal with your feelings.

1. Support Groups

Try finding a support group of individuals who are experiencing things similar to you. This can be in-person or online. Talking to them and hearing their experience can provide comfort and belonging. Listening to their recovery stories can also offer hope if you feel desolate.

Sometimes, we can struggle to communicate with friends and family since they do not know what we feel. Hence talking to people who are facing a similar ordeal can be much easier and decrease the feeling of loneliness and isolation that is common in posttraumatic stress disorder.

There are multiple support groups for sexual assault or rape victims, child abuse survivors, ex-veterans, and much more.

2. Mindfulness

Mindfulness is defined as “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the unfolding of experience moment by moment,” it is considered an alternative to psychotherapies. 

Research has demonstrated that mindfulness is just as effective, if not more, in helping victims recover from traumatic stress disorders, including PTSD. It is also implied that mindfulness can help ” restore connectivity between large-scale brain networks” and aid in memory recovery. 

You can practice mindfulness in various ways, such as journaling, meditation, guided imagery, etc.

3. Use Memory Aids

While a deficit in functioning memory can be distressing, using memory aids can help you get through your day. You can try setting reminders, making notes, or marking calendars. This can significantly improve the quality of your life while you wait for your memory to recover.

Conclusion

To conclude, trauma can cause long-term effects on how our minds function. These effects can hamper our routine lives and cause trouble with normal functioning. Reaching out and seeking professional help can assist individuals in recovering from these effects and reclaiming their lives.