Dissociative Amnesia Part Two: Understanding and Developing Management Techniques
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- In this video from the CTAD Clinic, Dr Mike Lloyd (Clinic Director) follows on from the previous video about dissociative amnesia by discussing how this symptom can be understood and managed. Mike goes through a number of techniques and ways of looking at dissociative amnesia that can be helpful in reducing the frequency and intensity of amnesic episodes and experiences, either from the past or present. These techniques have been worked through in clinical settings and therefore Mike recommends that the techniques described be attempted when in a supportive therapeutic setting.
#dissociativeamnesia #therapy #trauma
Dissociative amnesia not only hides the traumatic memories, but can also "erase" all the subsequent situations when those memories resurfaced, or at least that is my case. It literally feels as if having an eraser in my brain for a particular type of information. It is extremely unpleasant, and I have no way of knowing the scope of what I have forgotten. For some particularly important information, that had a deep impact on me - even though I do not remember them, but I feel they are important - I have a memory before and a memory after, like a frame, or a context, but I absolutely have no idea what has happened or what was said in between. Sometimes I even forget that I actually have dissociative amnesia, it feels like having an amnesia for amnesia.
Yes, this happened to me, as well, until the memories from a very traumatic childhood came flooding back. When that happened, all the previous flashbacks that had been re-packaged also were apparent -- all the times when I had "remembered" and then "forgotten." It was like looking back and seeing all the dominoes that had fallen over, the many times I did remember, but then forgot again. When you REALLY remember it, you might remember all those other times of "remembering," too. What a flood that was for me. Yes -- it feels like having amnesia of amnesia. I have told my therapist exactly this. Good luck with your journey.
@@nunyabizness3890 Thank you, good luck to you too, and I will certainly remember this metaphor with dominoes, I find it very accurate. All the best! A.
How bout your goals and continuity from yesterday?
@@alexcalibasi7028 I wrote a lot, to-do lists, plans, and journaling. It helped me maintain some direction of what I wanted in life, and it allowed me to pick up where I left off, even if I didn't have a sense of continuity. It also helped me understand what I accomplished in the meantime.
@@alatea4068 all it takes is some outlines i guess eh
I hadnt thought of self-soothing in the context of having an amnesiac episode; usually it slips under the radar for me, but it makes so much sense that this too is a symptom of being triggered. I think so I think I'll try that! Thank you for all the tips and tricks you put out there for coping with dissociative disorders! :)
That great, I really hope it works. Things like amnesia do "slip under the radar" within DID too. People don't always realise how important this aspect of dissociation is.
Thank you so very much. You are So very professional and so intelligent on this topic. You make it so much easier to understand.
This is a big !!!! eyeopener. This helps me to trust my proces and know that i can help myself making life better. Thank you
You're so welcome!
Thank you as always. My last major amnesia episode was last year after doing an (EVI) evidential video interview with the police. In that night I was so deeply triggered that I kept losing lots of time and different people were in my house(police and psych emergency response team). When I came back and realised this had happened I kept saying "oh f**k here we go again" and it seemed to calm my brain down. Trying to get better at talking to my parts about all of that, so this is much-needed advice. Thank you so much!
Like the idea of reassuring oneself regarding safety. At the end of the day, it is all about yearning safety.
We all need this. Thank you!
I have been trained to an extent in communication with my little people in me. I can get by on my own mostly but one biggest thing I have to face from time to time will give a real fright and my digestive system would be on a bad side for months. I hate it.
You video are always helpful and I’m immensely grateful for you.
... Oh. This video made me realise that maybe dissociative amnesia plays a big role in why I remember almost nothing about the, uh, three? years of therapy I had in my past _because_ I was talking about traumatic things - and probably still experiencing quite an amount of new trauma in my life at the same time.
I mean I did know I don't have memories about the therapy but I hadn't really thought about _why_ that was.
I guess it's no wonder it's so hard for me to heal and get better when I mostly don't remember (let alone notice) my own struggling. I keep doing the same errors month after month, day after day, with just a vague understanding of the reality of how it impacts me.
with regards: me, sleep-deprived and needing to attend things (oh and having had a huge trauma trigger episode lasting for several hours earlier today) but still up at 6.30 am
gotta go sleep soon. just a couple more videos...
(I guess my understanding of things that impact me is - at the very best - of a spider on caffeine trying to stitch his web together. [Look it up on google if you haven't, it's interesting.])
This is practical and clear! I can confirm that more detailed memory comes out when try to work on this
Thank you, Jamy!
Because of this, my head constantly feels fuzzy, if I try and look back I’m easily overwhelmed and gives me a severe DPDR episode. I sometimes try to write down what I have done in a day so I can look back without experience as much DPDR
Dr Mike, thanks. You covered techniques for managing Dissociative Amnesia that manifests as episodes in everyday life, but would you use the same approach for the historic amnesia? Ie talk to the brain? I ask because ‘my’ sense is that parts aren’t purposely holding on/ not sharing derail of trauma events, they just can’t remember either - but they get triggered and then have body memories or memory fragments or behave in a way that gives insight as to what may have happened. Have you got experience of this working? Ie when you get to the trauma phase of the work what is it that actually breaks down those barriers and memories come forward?
I tried to fix that shit with no therapist lol,, it’s safe to say I need one now
Just saw your video, Can't thank you enough for this insight, Such a gem we have!
Thank you so much!
Ty Dr. Mike our therapist is watching and we will talk today
I bought a watch (its not very stylish) but it helps .. it vibrates on my arm at regular intervals.. i set it ever half hour
What a great idea!
@@thectadclinic i don’t know if its ok to put the name of the watch here but i will anyway because it is very useful ... watchminder 3 .. marketed for adhd children etc ... i originally found it years ago when it was no.2 marketed for dementia back then ... it is now better because it is rechargeable & smaller than previous model 😊👍
Another great discussion! Thank you Dr Mike 💜
I have to get into certain “moods” to do or remember certain things. A lot of times I will tell myself what I need to do out loud. I use the “cellphone excuse” when people ask if I’m talking to myself. I hate that my kids notice.
Doctor, I have huge chunks of childhood and adolescent memory totally missing apart from snapshots. Any memories there are seem to be more traumatic in nature, but there’s something strange that I’ve never heard anywhere - I don’t recognize my younger self in photographs. Like a picture of me and my 4 sisters was where I had to ask my husband which girl was me. Is that a part of dissociation or something else? I am diagnosed with PTSD. No other disorder was found but I never spoke about my missing memories.
I love your videos. Could you please make a video discussing OSDD? I was diagnosed recently with it and am not finding as much information on that as DID.
There’s one just about OSDD and what we mean by it, have you seen that one?
He already did one.
Good video thanks good upload. Our system loves this channel.
Thank you!
@@thectadclinic you’re welcome
Amazing video as always, Dr Lloyd!
For me my early life (ages 6-11) is like fogged film running though a projector. There are bits and pieces that are clear, but large amounts have been fogged and only snippets of clear parts appear until later. It's the pits not to have a clear image of my life then. Now it is like bad edits... life jumping from scene to scene.
Thank you, Dr. Mike.
Oh my gods I’ve learned so much!
Happy days!
Sometimes I just want to take my brain out of my head and burn it… omg i just had the mon fuzzy feeling and I don’t know what’s happening HELP. Ok nope I actually don’t remember anything now, uhhhh
I have a question, maybe you can help. I'm looking for resources, and I'm not intimidated by research papers, concerning what you said at the beginning about when a person loses their sense of self. Going into almost a mental chrysalis after a traumatic experience and then emerging feeling no connection to the person they were previously. The episodic autobiographical memory is impaired to the point of inability to recall significant events happening several weeks before and a few years after.
Is there a name for this other than just depersonalization? I feel that that just doesn't encapsulate the scope of what I'm talking about. This experience is unnerving, watching videos of a person I don't know and remembering memories I don't feel that I personally made. As if I share a brain with a stranger, like being reincarnated into a body that's already lived. I do have a therapist, but I moonlight on the side. Any ideas when it comes to routes of research and exploration would be appreciated. I know when to stop if I get too close. Thank you.
Im not formally diagnosed, but when I was going through a rough time I tried setting alarms and something traumatic happened while one was going off and now that alarm sound is extremely triggering. Just a heads up for anyone else.
I am definitely trying. To jot down what i do. Because i waste hiurs daily flitting around I got a planner. But it looks like a huge mess. Different colors for different things. Stuff crossed out. Not a bad idea to make a DID planner.
Thank you dr Mike for this video! I have never considered actually talking to my brain in the way you describe. Makes sense so would like to try it. Would it also work if I ask my therapist to record a message saying that I am safe and nothing bad is going on, and then listen to that? Just to get started, because I have difficulty thinking positive thoughts in general. Or is listening to someone else's message (too) different (to work for this purpose of knowing you are safe)?
I think that sounds like a great idea, perhaps you could work together to produce a message between you, maybe using your voice as well?
Not only in childhood. Traumas can occur in any age.
Thank you for these calming, informative videos. Does chronic illness often accompany DID/OSDD? As a person with Mold and tick-borne illness also trying to come to terms with the idea of DID later in life, I’m quite overwhelmed. There is a lot of symptom overlap which further muddies the waters - and my brain. As trauma affects the body’s health, surely there are others out there in the same (leaky) boat?
Hi Kari, the answer as I see it in clinical practice is yes, which is why we work with the body as well as the mind. Many traumas are ‘held’ in the body, creating a variety of physical symptoms which are often diagnosed in many different and creative ways! Also, trauma can affect the immune system due to the sustained, long-term anxiety, leading to vulnerability to illness.
Why not one word on systems and parts? The DSM separates the diagnosis of dissociative amnesia from switching in DID. Not the same diagnosis, and not exactly the same treatments. If you have DID, you must work with your system to address the causes of switching and keeping track of where you went/are. Perhaps you could speak to the shame of this phenomenon. Try explaining this to any neurotypical person, and the shame is absolutely overwhelming. Managing shame is essential. This isn't wetting your panties in public. This is not knowing how you got somewhere.
Hi Cathy, that aspect wasn’t mentioned because the video specifically looked at one diagnostic type only. Many people have DA without systems and parts, so this is for that group, though the essence of what I described can be used in DID and OSDD as well. There is always more that can be discussed, but the videos would be rather long if I tried to include everything!
@@thectadclinic I would actually love longer videos!