Repressed Memory Therapy

Imagine what will happen if you remember all the memories that bother you, which create stress in you and gives rise to overthinking. Is that good for our mental health? That’s why our brain and mind use some tactics and mechanisms to safeguard us from such tormenting memories. Our brain will be like, “Let’s take some break from this, I’m not going to let you suffer with this memory”. Such mechanisms can be both a boon and a bane. 

Repressed Memory 

Repressed memory is defined as the memory of an incident or event that an individual tends to push into the unconscious part of the mind. It is used as a defense mechanism which is termed as Repression. 

Read More: How the Big 10 Defense Mechanisms Can Unlock Your Personal Growth, According to Psychology

History of Repressed Memory 

Sigmund Freud was the first person to discuss about the concept of repressed memory in his essay, the ‘Aetiology of Hysteria.’ In that essay he discussed about the case of Anna O. Breuer and Freud treated her using hypnosis. Anna O was paralyzed and Freud said that the psychological trauma she had was shown in the form of physical symptoms. Her traumatic experiences were repressed from her conscious mind and reemerged as physical symptom. Repression is the crux of Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory. 

Difference between Suppression and Repression 

Suppression is similar to repression. Suppression is the conscious decision or deliberate effort made by an individual to put the memory that creates distress or discomfort into unconscious mind. While, repression occurs unintentionally or unconsciously. 

Repression is both a boon and a bane – Betrayal Trauma Theory 

The betrayal trauma theory was proposed by Jennifer Freyd. The theory says that physical, sexual abuse in childhood done by a caregiver (whom the child dependent on for their needs) is a traumatic betrayal that may lead to occurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and majorly if it creates massive fear. Freyd says that the child then blocks the memory about the abuse and betrayal and may cause dissociative amnesia, if the child is dependent on the caregiver for their basic needs. This happens in order to maintain the relationship for survival. If they fail to do so, it may be difficult for the child to interact or face the caregiver. 

A Boon 

Forgetting the trauma and the abuser, may help them survive, as the child rely on the caregiver for support. It reduces the chance of reliving the experience or get afraid of the caregiver. 

A Bane 

The people who experience betrayal trauma may normalize an unhealthy behaviour and have increased tendency to blame themselves. 

Repressed memory therapy (RMT) 

Though many people are skeptical about this concept, some psychologists trust the possibility of repressed memory and use therapy to help them recover. Therapist help the client to recover the repressed memories and is called repressed memory therapy or recovered memory therapy. RMT is not a single therapy, it is the mix of different approaches that helps the client recover the repressed memories. RMT assumes that in order to attain a healthy psychological state one has to retrieve and face the repressed memories. 

Techniques 

Memory retrieval therapy 

It is also called memory work or memory enhancement therapy. In this technique, the therapist work to resurface the repressed memories via guided imagery, visualization and storytelling. The therapist should make the client feel comfortable and provide safe environment, so that the client can recollect the information uninhibitedly. 

Mindfulness exercise for memory recall 

Mindfulness activities such as meditation and deep breathing can be used in the therapy sessions to intensify the memory recall. As the clients feels relaxed and soothing, they can tap the unconscious repressed memories 

Therapeutic intervention for suppressed memories 

Therapies like Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and Eye movement desensitization Reprocessing therapy (EMDR) were used to find the coping mechanisms, or promote health and reduced distress. 

Trance Writing 

In trance writing, the client was asked to write freely whatever that comes to their mind. And it is believed that this automatic writing helps to bring up the repressed memories. It is called trance writing because writing whatever comes to mind without consciousness similar to a trance state. 

Hypnosis 

Hypnosis is one of the techniques used to retrieve the repressed memory. In hypnosis, the client is allowed to be lay back comfortably and the trained hypnotherapist make the client to concentrate or focus deeply. The client will be in the state of suggestion. And therapist will ask them questions in order to elicit the response which helps them recollect the repressed memories. 

Dream interpretation 

The therapist will find the underlying or hidden meaning in the client’s dream. The therapist will analyze the latent and manifest content for the trace of abuse.

Group Therapy 

RMT therapists sometimes put the people with same symptoms together and perform group therapy. As we discussed earlier RMT therapists believe that uncovering the client’s repressed memories can resolve their dysfunctional symptoms. 

Controversies of RMT 

• Though some of the psychologists believe that repressed memories are one phenomenon that can occur in real life and use repressed memory therapy. Memories are not always true they can be fabricated, manipulated and distorted. False memories can be unintentionally created through suggestions or leading questions. One of the examples for this is eyewitness testimony given by Loftus. 
• When a person is unable to retrieve a traumatic memory, the reason is not always repression. It can occur as a result of memory decay (forgetting a memory if it is not retrieved or recalled for a longer period of time), suppression or motivated forgetting (voluntarily forgetting a memory), brain injury or drug abuse. 
• Psychologists also suggest that RMT can create false memory of sexual abuse in an individual or even can cause alien abduction (when people believe that they are being kidnapped by extraterrestrial being or alien.)

Repressed memory is a highly debated and controversial topic in the field of Psychology. As it is believed that uncovering the repressed memories can help in healing and at the same time there are possibilities for creating false memories. The therapists should handle the client with care, as it demands a delicate balance between safeguarding the mind from overwhelming trauma and the potential harm caused by confronting the painful memories.