Repressed vs Suppressed vs Forgotten Memories of Childhood Trauma: Part 1

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• published: 17 Mar 2010
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I dedicate this series to my close friend Patrick T. Halley who also died suddenly of a gunshot wound. Because he managed and resided in our rental property, I was called in and view what was left of his remains. My remembrance of this earlier, similar event was jogged by Pat's tragic death. "Overcoming the past may mean remembering it: Some find the concept of revisiting the past too painful. Others may be willing but find it impossible to sort out the jumble of childhood impressions. Often all that remains is a floating sense of anxiety. Pain becomes tough to eliminate when its source cannot be pinpointed." --David Sack, MD Years ago, if something traumatic to a child, adults would encourage the child to forget about and pretend that it never happened. In my case, this approach manifested itself decades later in the form of chronic depression. Because the event happened when I was younger than four-years old, I didn't have the word memory. However, I could recall what I experienced visually. Being an "OK" sketch artist, I began to draw fragments of memories. I developed my approach using a set of 12 drawing pencils. I would start with the 2H. By going over and over the same drawing until I progressed to the 8B, I would remember more and more details with each pass. I avoided using an eraser as I simply let the thoughts resurface. In total, I drew about 100 such sketches of which some 80 of them are included in this video series. I worked slowly and meditatively as I averaged an hour and a half on each one. I don't know if this method of recall will work for everyone, but it has definitely helped me and my communication with family members. It can't hurt to try it. Suppressing a memory has been defined as putting down a memory by authority or force, keeping the memory from public knowledge, or to exclude the memory from consciousness. Repressing a memory has been defined as checking a memory by or as if by pressure, to hold the memory in by self-control, or to exclude the memory from consciousness. The difference between the two is vague and overlapping. We need clearer, delineated definitions. What is the difference between a suppressed (deliberate avoidance) and a repressed memory? Does the difference depend upon whether or not the memory is consciously retained for a period of time, is communicated to other people? Does the difference depend upon whether the memory has been excluded from consciousness by involuntary or voluntary self-action? Does the difference depend upon whether the memory has been excluded from consciousness by voluntary contributing actions by others after the event? The events in this series were consciously retained and communicated to other people for weeks to months after they occurred.Some parts of the memories may have been excluded from consciousness by involuntary self-action while other parts were excluded through voluntary self-action over a period of years.Part four of this series contains the suggestion that some parts of the memories were excluded from consciousness by voluntary contributing actions by others through "therapy," after the event. In part, I have posted this compilation for the benefit of the court of public opinion. The set of more than eighty sketches reflect the tip of the iceberg of fragmented memories that have randomly surfaced over the past decades. Throughout my life, I have heard many responses about these related events: 1) The official statements and police reports evidenced unexplained inconsistencies, 2) Spectators who have believed that the artist, whom I knew as Michael, committed suicide cling to circumstantial evidence and their beliefs, 3) Some theorists share the belief that I imagined the scenes because I could not cope with a memory of directly causing his death, and 4) Others believe that official documents concerning Michael's death were either tampered with, or removed from file records. Therefore, as the only surviving witness apart from the two men who left the room alive after Michael's death, I offer this transparent view of events that took place many years ago. --J. Sase

Repressed vs Suppressed vs Forgotten Memories of Childhood Trauma: Part 1

• Report rights infringement
• published: 17 Mar 2010
• views: 34399

I dedicate this series to my close friend Patrick T. Halley who also died suddenly of a gunshot wound. Because he managed and resided in our rental property, I was called in and view what was left of his remains. My remembrance of this earlier, similar event was jogged by Pat's tragic death. "Overcoming the past may mean remembering it: Some find the concept of revisiting the past too painful. Others may be willing but find it impossible to sort out the jumble of childhood impressions. Often all that remains is a floating sense of anxiety. Pain becomes tough to eliminate when its source cannot be pinpointed." --David Sack, MD Years ago, if something traumatic to a child, adults would encourage the child to forget about and pretend that it never happened. In my case, this approach manifested itself decades later in the form of chronic depression. Because the event happened when I was younger than four-years old, I didn't have the word memory. However, I could recall what I experienced visually. Being an "OK" sketch artist, I began to draw fragments of memories. I developed my approach using a set of 12 drawing pencils. I would start with the 2H. By going over and over the same drawing until I progressed to the 8B, I would remember more and more details with each pass. I avoided using an eraser as I simply let the thoughts resurface. In total, I drew about 100 such sketches of which some 80 of them are included in this video series. I worked slowly and meditatively as I averaged an hour and a half on each one. I don't know if this method of recall will work for everyone, but it has definitely helped me and my communication with family members. It can't hurt to try it. Suppressing a memory has been defined as putting down a memory by authority or force, keeping the memory from public knowledge, or to exclude the memory from consciousness. Repressing a memory has been defined as checking a memory by or as if by pressure, to hold the memory in by self-control, or to exclude the memory from consciousness. The difference between the two is vague and overlapping. We need clearer, delineated definitions. What is the difference between a suppressed (deliberate avoidance) and a repressed memory? Does the difference depend upon whether or not the memory is consciously retained for a period of time, is communicated to other people? Does the difference depend upon whether the memory has been excluded from consciousness by involuntary or voluntary self-action? Does the difference depend upon whether the memory has been excluded from consciousness by voluntary contributing actions by others after the event? The events in this series were consciously retained and communicated to other people for weeks to months after they occurred.Some parts of the memories may have been excluded from consciousness by involuntary self-action while other parts were excluded through voluntary self-action over a period of years.Part four of this series contains the suggestion that some parts of the memories were excluded from consciousness by voluntary contributing actions by others through "therapy," after the event. In part, I have posted this compilation for the benefit of the court of public opinion. The set of more than eighty sketches reflect the tip of the iceberg of fragmented memories that have randomly surfaced over the past decades. Throughout my life, I have heard many responses about these related events: 1) The official statements and police reports evidenced unexplained inconsistencies, 2) Spectators who have believed that the artist, whom I knew as Michael, committed suicide cling to circumstantial evidence and their beliefs, 3) Some theorists share the belief that I imagined the scenes because I could not cope with a memory of directly causing his death, and 4) Others believe that official documents concerning Michael's death were either tampered with, or removed from file records. Therefore, as the only surviving witness apart from the two men who left the room alive after Michael's death, I offer this transparent view of events that took place many years ago. --J. Sase