Recovered Memories
What is a Recovered Memory?
A recovered memory is a memory that was previously forgotten, pushed out of consciousness, repressed, or dissociated. This memory is later recovered, or remembered by an individual. The period between "forgetting" and "remembering" is called amnesia.
Are Recovered Memories accurate?
There are confirmed cases of accurate memory recovery among surivors of real childhood sexual abuse. Anyone who attempts to claim otherwise is an outright liar. Some studies suggest that recovered memories are just as accurate as memories that are not forgotten. Jim Hopper, a Harvard affiliated Clinician, believes that as many or more than 10% of all survivors of sexual abuse experience a period of amnesia of their abuse.
Some individuals believe they have recovered memories and have really recalled a "false memory" or a "confabulated memory". An example of a false or confabulated memory are memories of satanic ritual abuse. Several people appear to have recalled detailed histories of horrendous abuses, including witnessing the mass murder of infants and people possessing supernatural powers. These were suppositly part of a satanic cult's rituals. A probe conducted by the FBI discovered no evidence of a widespread cult conducting these attrocities. It appears that most these memories were either false, confabulated, or outright lies. Many of these people underwent a type of therapy called Recovered Memory Therapy(RMT), which involved suggestive techniques and hypnosis. In these cases the people recalling these memories were most likely victims of bad therapy.
It is possible that some people reporting Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) memories did experience trauma but have developed screen memories as an elaborate defense. It is also true that some forms of abuse may be more "ritualistic" or may use religious themes. Some perpetrators may talk of Satan during the abuse. This is different for SRA however, SRA involves a complex, hundreds of years old underground devil worshipping cult that kills infants and possess supernatural powers.
Aren't Recovered Memories really False Memories?
Some people believe that all recovered memories of sexual abuse are false memories. Some of these people believe this because they cannot comprehend how someone could forget sexual abuse, others because this is what they have been told. Some believe it because in one study some people were convinced with some degree of confidence that they were lost in a shopping mall as children. Being lost, or rather feeling as if you are lost, is a common experience in childhood. Did you know participants in the same study would not agree to having a rectal enema, an experience somewhat similiar to sexual abuse?
Other studies may have focused on people who really did either lie about their abuse or have confabulated or untrue memories. These people may have underwent dangerous therapies or may be delusional. Until there is a study or series of studies that measures and classifies the different types of memories and experiences we simply cannot know what is going on.
Is there a way I can find out if my memories are true or not?
Unfortunately there is no way to effectively tell if a memory is true or not. Our neurosciences are just not developed enough that we can scan someones brain and tell if the memory is real, confabulated, or false.
Many people who recall memories have little doubt they are real.
If you have recalled memories of being sexually abused or of another traumatic experience you should seek professional counseling to deal with the emotions surrounding these memories. If you believe you were sexually abused you may also wish to seek collaboratory evidence by speaking to family or friends who knew you at that time. It is possible if you were abused that you were not the only victim.
What should I do if I think I have amnesia of childhood sexual abuse and want to recover memories?
Recalling accurate memories that you have repressed, dissociated, or forgot is not something anyone can safely induce. If you believe you were sexually abused but have no memories or collaborating evidence (ie: police reports) then there is no way to accurately tell if you were or were not sexually abused. There are no symptoms that people who were sexually abused exhibit that could not be caused by something else. If you are experiencing personal difficulties you sould seek professional therapy by a licensed therapist.
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