A person with dissociative amnesia may forget personal information or details about events, and many people misunderstand certain aspects about the condition.
Dissociative amnesia involves a person forgetting critical life details. According toThe Cleveland Clinic, this condition is uncommon and affects just 1% of men and 2.6% of women. Sincedissociative amnesia is rareand can easily be misunderstood, there are numerous myths surrounding it.
Dissociative amnesia mythscan be dispelled to promote a better understanding of this condition. Here are five myths and facts about dissociative amnesia.
Myth 1: Dissociative amnesia is obvious to the sufferer.
Fact: A person with dissociative amnesia may not always realize he or she is experiencing memory loss.
The American Psychiatric Associationreports that people experiencing dissociative amnesia tend to be unaware or only partially understand that they are suffering from amnesia. They may be uncomfortable talking about their memory loss and may downplay its significance.
Ready to Break Free From Addiction?
If you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait—start your journey to recovery today.
Some people may believe that individuals with dissociative amnesia are aware of their memory loss and can control it, but this is not the case. Someone who is experiencingdissociative amnesiais likely undergoing significant distress and is repressing memories in an attempt to cope.
Myth 2: Dissociative amnesia is caused by physical trauma.
Fact: It is possible that dissociative amnesia may follow physical trauma, but this is not the only cause of this condition.
According toexperts, dissociative amnesia tends to occur after some sort of trauma, such as being in an accident, witnessing a disaster or being avictim of abuse. Someone who has been a victim of physical abuse may develop dissociative amnesia to cope with the trauma.
Dissociative amnesia after traumacan also occur with sexual abuse or with distressing events, such as witnessing the death of a loved one orexperiencing the effects of war. Trauma does not have to be physical to produce symptoms of dissociative amnesia.
Myth 3: Symptoms of dissociative amnesia are typically long-lasting.
Fact:Dissociative amnesia symptomsare often short-lived and will resolve.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)reports that episodes of dissociative amnesia can pass after just a few minutes, or they can last for hours or days. In rare cases, dissociative amnesia may persist for months or years, but it typically is not long-lasting.
One studyfound that individuals experiencing fugue, a form of dissociative amnesia, saw their symptoms improve within three to six months. Dissociative amnesia can be expected to resolve, and long-lasting cases seem to be less common. Researchers fromWashington State Universityhave explained that dissociative amnesia is not permanent since the information that one forgets is still a stored memory.
Myth 4: There is only one type of dissociative amnesia.
Fact: There are multipletypes of dissociative amnesia.
Dissociative amnesia can describe one of several forms of temporary memory loss.All of the followingare types of dissociative amnesia:
- Localized amnesia:The most typical form of dissociative amnesia, this condition involves being unable to remember information from a distinct time period. For instance, a person may develop localized amnesia for a time during which he or she was being sexually abused.
- Selective amnesia:With this form of dissociative amnesia, a person forgets some details from a certain time period but is able to remember some positive aspects of that time.
- Generalized amnesia:This is a rare form of amnesia that causes people to forget their life stories and their own identities. They also forget basic information, such as numbers, and are unable to complete everyday tasks, like getting dressed.
- Dissociative fugue:In thissevere type of dissociative amnesia, people are unable to remember their personal identities and create new ones. This can involve changing careers or relationships or moving to an entirely different location and starting a different life. Once the fugue passes, the person is able to remember their previous life.
Myth 5: Dissociative amnesia only affects adults.
Fact: Dissociative amnesia can occur in children and adults.
Children and adults can both experience dissociative amnesia, andNAMI reportsthat the condition can affect any age group.One studyfound that the typical age of a person with a dissociative disorder is 21.
Dissociative amnesiacan occur following a trauma such as physical or sexual abuse, which children and adolescents may experience. It is possible for children and teens to develop dissociative amnesia as a way to cope with abuse or trauma in their lives. Adults may also develop amnesia in response to abuse or trauma experienced during childhood.
If you or a loved one is experiencingdissociative amnesia and a co-occurring substance use disorder, The Recovery Village has locations around the country that can provide comprehensive services to meet your needs.Contact usand speak with anadmissionsrepresentative today to discuss treatment options.
