Traumatic amnesia and complex trauma

Traumatic amnesia is common for victims of violence. And very often, it originates from a complex trauma . But what is traumatic amnesia and what is a complex trauma? What care is available for people who suffer from it? Let's take stock.

Traumatic amnesia: what is it?

Traumatic amnesia is common in people who have experienced violence. It is particularly common in victims of sexual violence. Let's take this example to better define traumatic amnesia. In the event of sexual assault, the victim experiences such intense stress that their body is unable to handle it. When placed in a life-threatening situation, the person's brain activates a protective mechanism that consists of shutting down certain brain functions. Thus, information about the experience of the assault is not processed and integrated as autobiographical memory. Memories of the traumatic event are retained but put out of the person's reach. This amnesia can last a few days, months, years or even decades. Traumatic amnesia can also last throughout the person's life. It can be partial or total as well. At any time, a victim can recover memories of the past trauma. Memories can emerge in part or in full. Traumatic amnesia is triggered after a situation of overcoming stress.

What is overcoming stress?

Overwhelming stress is when the brain is unable to cope with an extremely violent and unpredictable situation. It is acute stress that means that the person can no longer function coherently. When the situation is too violent or lasts too long, for example, the brain glitches and is no longer able to integrate the information. This is overwhelm. Overwhelming stress is life-threatening, which is why the brain shuts down the system. It is this state that means that victims of violence are unable to scream or defend themselves when they are attacked. They are no longer able to understand what is happening to them and this state can last for a long time. This also explains why some victims who file a complaint recount the facts in a detached manner (without the emotional dimension). The short-circuit process implemented by the brain has anesthetized the victim who no longer has any physical or psychological sensations. Victims of traumatic amnesia often have complex trauma. This may be in the context of sexual violence, following an attack or caused by another extremely violent and traumatic event.

And what is complex trauma?

Complex trauma is linked to chronic or repeated traumatic situations over a certain period of time, sometimes a long time. An example of complex trauma is sexual violence perpetrated in childhood such as incest or rape. The symptoms of complex trauma are numerous and differ depending on the victim and the nature of the trauma. But overall, the following characteristics will be found in complex trauma:

• persistent dysphoria,
• suicidal thoughts,
• acts of self-destruction which can take various forms,
• in the case of sexual violence, there may be compulsive or, on the contrary, repressed sexuality,
• violent outbursts of anger or, on the contrary, completely repressed anger,
• in some subjects, complex trauma also generates risky behavior,
• the victim may also have amnesia or, on the contrary, hypermnesia,
• it may also have dissociated completely,
• depersonalization is common, as is derealization,
• a person suffering from complex trauma may have a re-experiencing of the events experienced, and this in a totally intrusive and uncontrollable way,
• Some people may also minimize traumatic events,
• Shame and guilt are also consequences of complex trauma,
• Isolation or withdrawal are not uncommon either,
• major disruptions in relationships occur,
• the person may feel unable to trust others and have a permanent feeling of insecurity,
• finally, multiple somatizations are possible.

Complex trauma, with or without amnesia, requires treatment by a trauma specialist. It is important to know that it is possible to work in therapy on trauma from childhood to adulthood. In any case, the therapeutic approach must be integrative.