The Relationship Between Dissociative Amnesia, Trauma, and PTSD

A Quick Guide

Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD and Dissociative amnesia have a clear-cut link. Since, there is research supporting the evidence that dissociative disorders are caused by prolonged, repetitive childhood trauma or neglect, we know that a person may dissociate in order to escape their traumatic experiences. In this article, we will discuss the relationship between dissociative amnesia, trauma and PTSD.

What is dissociation?

Dissociation may be characterized as a disconnection between a person’s mind, body, thoughts, emotions, sense of identity, etc. 

But then again, detaching themselves from their trauma is the only way they know how to survive. This dissociation serves as a strong coping mechanism. But more than that it can affect them in other ways as well. For instance, when they keep dissociating even when there is no traumatic situation occurring at that moment, they may become stuck with those feelings, and recovering can seem impossible. 

Around 2% of the whole population suffers from dissociative disorders regardless of age, ethnic group, and socioeconomic background. 

And while it is completely normal to have feelings of dissociation fleetingly. It becomes an actual problem when it starts to interfere with a person’s daily life functioning.

The Link between Trauma & Dissociation 

We know that the link between trauma and dissociation is very strong. In fact, 90% of the cases with childhood trauma or neglect experience symptoms of dissociation whether it be dissociative amnesia, dissociative identity disorder, or depersonalization/derealization disorder.

But then you may question, why does a person dissociate? 

Since children are helpless in response to some sort of traumatic event, all that they can do is disconnect or escape from their harsh reality for survival. And after disconnecting themselves from their mind and body (depersonalization), they may disconnect themselves from their environment as well, which may lead them to believe that whatever is happening to and around them is not real (derealization) and it may all just be a horrible dream.  

Both depersonalization and derealization are classic symptoms of dissociation. 

Moreover, this may even impact their memories, as they would have memory gaps and it might be difficult for them to completely remember some specific detail about some traumatic event or period in their lives. This is also because they are mentally disconnected from everything around them. Hence, they don’t retain any recollection of the events. 

In the end, various studies prove that dissociation is a response to intense trauma. 

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Physiological Changes in the Brain

It has also been noted through research that there are direct similar physiological changes occurring in the brain as a result of intense trauma and dissociation. Some of these changes include the following: 

• Decreased limbic activity
• Increased frontal lobe activity
• Communication changes in the above 2 regions

The link between PTSD and Dissociative Amnesia

The recollections of the traumatic experience might not fully integrate with someone’s consciousness when trauma overwhelms their capacity to cope with a scenario. 

While memories often fade with time, PTSD patients may experience a hyper-realistic reliving of traumatic events. These recollections, which frequently appear suddenly and intrusively, may also be accompanied by a vivid memory of noises or scents from the traumatizing event. These memories are frequently incomplete despite their abnormal clarity. 

The inability to recall the traumatic event whatsoever may be combined with hyperrealistic and unwelcome memories of the experience.

The DSM-5 made the connection between PTSD and dissociative amnesia apparent in its criteria for diagnosing PTSD. 

An inability to remember a key part of the traumatic events usually owing to dissociative amnesia that is not linked to head injury, alcohol, or narcotics is one of the cognitive criteria for diagnosis. 

For the greatest chance of recovery, dissociative amnesia and PTSD must be treated together because they frequently co-occur.

We hope you found this article helpful in learning more about the relationship between dissociative amnesia and PTSD.