#generalized amnesia

amnesia has multiple types including anterograde, retrograde, dissociative, infantile, and transient; in this post we will focus on dissociative amnesia which has its own subtypes (localized, selective, and generalized)

localized amnesia is the failure to recall events during a specific period of time

selective amnesia is when some but not all events can be remembered during a specific period of time

generalized amnesia is complete amnesia for one’s whole life history, may forget their identity (sudden onset; rare)

localized amnesia is what you will most likely see with switches between alters with high dissociative walls between them and little to no communication

This is one of those things that is really overplayed in fiction.  Generalized amnesia (forgetting one’s entire life) / dissociative fugue is incredibly, incredibly rare. 

However, it is not unheard of. Some of the symptoms reported in the wake of recovering from the fugue are depression, shame, and anger.

Systematized amnesia is loss of memory for certain categories of information, such as all memories relating to one’s family or to a particular person (APA, 1994). In generalized amnesia, the failure of recall encompasses the person’s entire life (APA, 1994; Van der Hart & Nijenhuis, 2001). This is the “John Doe” version of amnesia where individuals have no idea who they are, where they are from, or any other generalities of their lives. This type is rare. Finally, the DSM-IV defines continuous amnesia as the inability to recall all events subsequent to a specific time up to and including the present. This is an extremely rare form of dissociative amnesia that may be related to events that have overwhelmed the individual (Janet, 1893/1898e, 1901/1977).

All my life I had short and long term memory loss and I couldn remember why. (Isn’t that the kicker)

What I did to regan my memory was letting myself be vulnerable enough to be able to feel my emotions and with feeling through my emotions I would get more and more memories/information that I couldn’t reach/remember before.

When I had memory loss It was horrific and seemed like I was the only one who could even remember I had it (by not being able to use my memory). I couldn’t remember who I was, learn in school and so much more. I was a shadow of who I really am and no one understood me enough to help me so I learned to help myself.

(Yes I do believe in personal responsibility but I also believe that when someone is hindered mentally, physically, and emotionally some of the help that is needed is put on those around them and those who are able to help)