How can memories of abuse be verified?

Traumatic memories, and specifically, memories of abuse, can often be corroborated in some way.

EXTERNAL CORROBORATION …

Can be in the form of admittance by the perpetrator.

It can also be in the form of journals written at the time by the survivor, scarring, photographs, or testimony from other family members, other witnesses or other victims. Past medical records might also show some evidence of physical and sexual abuse.

 

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A number of professional societies have issued statements concerning recovered memories of abuse – the American Psychiatric Association, the Australian Psychological Association, and the British Psychological Society. These statements all concluded that it is possible for accurate memories of abuse to have been forgotten for a long time, only to be remembered much later in life.

In general, people with multiple personality (DID) often are conflicted and unsure about their memories, with different personalities having different points of view. The personalities that were not conscious during the trauma tend to not have memories of the trauma and thus, it is harder for them to believe anything actually happened. As well, for those personalities who do not remember the trauma, it is extremely difficult for them to come to terms with the fact that their past is not what they believed it to be.

Most often it is the essence or core of a traumatic memory that is true, and, it is that essence that can’t be feigned.

As far as the therapist’s role, taking a more neutral stance is perhaps the best stand. She should take great care to avoid suggestive and leading interview techniques, as well as to inform the patient about the nature of memory. Thus the patient is given freedom to evaluate the truth of her own memories.

 

INTERNAL VERIFICATION and CORROBORATION

 

One way to corroborate and verify memories of trauma, especially abuse, is by certain signs and symptoms.

If a person has experienced at least 4 of the following then it’s a very strong possibility that he was abused as a child. If he has had

·    high risk disorders and other mental illnesses (such as eating disorders, addictions, self-harm, prostitution, pedophilia, depression, psychosis, Borderline Personality Disorder, or sexual dysfunction);

 

·    lots of medical problems – such as gastrointestinal, respiratory, gynecological, neurological, or chronic pain;

 

·    Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder;

 

·    age regression (acts like a young child), reliving of traumatic memories, or flashbacks (see GLOSSARY);

 

·    re-enactments of the trauma either in relationships (e.g., abusive ones) or in behaviours (self-harm, addictions, obsessive behaviours);

 

·    anniversary reactions – certain dates tend to be extremely upsetting as they are dates the person was originally traumatized;

 

·    a tendency to act in the role of counsellor or therapist especially for others who were traumatized/abused;

 

·    traumatic memories as described in the previous section.