In a previous video, I talked about nonverbal memories of trauma. Because of the way the brain functions in trauma, more trauma memories are nonverbal than verbal. That is, more memories are emotional or body memories. These types of memories often go unrecognized. People will say they have no or little memory of a traumatic event without realizing that they are indeed experiencing memories.
This list contains examples of unrecognized memories:
- startling at sudden noises
- feeling afraid
- feeling shame
- feeling self-hatred
- pain in an apparently uninjured part of the body
- trembling
- impulse to run or hide
- being afraid of the dark
- being uneasy or afraid around other people
- being afraid to be alone
- feeling numb
- wanting to hurt yourself
One thing that is important to know is that we shouldn’t assume a one-to-one relationship between a nonverbal memory and a trauma. It is likely that these types of memories are tied to multiple similar experiences.