Dissociative amnesia, also known as memory loss disorder, is a condition in which your mind blocks out certain memories, causing "gaps". This can often be the body's way of blocking out traumatic experiences or unpleasant, distressing moments. Unlike simply forgetting something, with Dissociative Amnesia you have the memories you just can't access them.
So you may wonder what exactly is dissociation? Well all of your experiences (memory, consciousness, identity and emotions) heavily rely on multiple brain processes working together. However Dissociation is a defensive measure your body can use to stop one of these processes from working with the rest. This can often have an impact on the way you experience or understand things and importantly what you remember.
How does it work?
Dissociative amnesia is a condition that affects how we remember life events. Our brain stores memories in three steps: encoding (creating the memory), storage (saving it), and retrieval (remembering it). When dissociative amnesia happens, it disrupts these steps, leading to memory loss. This can be retrograde (forgetting past events) or anterograde (struggling to form new memories), with retrograde being more common.
Who does It affect?
It’s hard to know exactly how common dissociative amnesia is, with estimates ranging from 0.2% to 7.3% of people. Symptoms vary and may include forgetting short or long periods, specific events, or even certain people. Some individuals experience flashbacks, confusion, or trust issues. In rare cases, people may wander or travel with no memory of doing so (dissociative fugue).
What are the main causes?
The main cause is trauma, such as abuse, violence, war, or other distressing events. The risk increases with repeated or severe trauma, and genetics may also play a role. Stressful situations later in life can trigger or worsen symptoms.
How is it diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose dissociative amnesia by asking questions about memory loss. There are no direct medical tests for it, but scans and lab tests help rule out other conditions.
There’s no specific medication for dissociative amnesia, but therapy can help people process trauma and regain memories. Sometimes, removing someone from a stressful environment is necessary to prevent further episodes.
Understanding dissociative amnesia can help reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help. With the right support, individuals can manage their condition and work towards recovery.
Sources:
Dissociative amnesia - Wikipedia
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