Flashbacks True/false

[Beetle]

I have read the thread about false flashbacks but no one seems to know if they can be or not. I have had many over the years and I know they are for real. Recently I had one which freaked me out and I am hoping it is not real, that some how it is an untruth, my gut tells me it really did happen.

I have read about people having false memories but not flashbacks, is there any reading I can do that will help me?

 

[Seasounds]

Alice Miller, using psychoanalytic terminology, in her books (e.g. Though Shalt Not Be Aware--please Google for exact title), speaks at length on this subject. (Her books also offer a in-direct comment on the early origins of psychology that were male dominated, and protected the male abusers needs for denial. My abusers were male and female, and the books did help me understand the origins of authority figures asking people to not believe their memories.)

After reading those, and integrating that knowledge with accountable, non-violent communication, and Jungian Psychology, I worked out my own way of dealing with the 'believe vs don't believe' flashbacks, that are triggered in every day life.

I work with flashbacks 'as if they are real', since I DO REALLY experience them. For that reason, I personally don't believe in discrediting a perception/experience of mine, that is presenting itself, for me to process.

Truth (absolute) doesn't really exist, true memory doesn't really exist (research at this time is written from the framework that says memory isn't reliable-since we filter realty through our own perspective (victim, victor, etc.).

What made sense to me and my therapists was to work through the memories, as they were MY truth, and as if they were a vehicle for me to learn from, and become empowered by, through the learning process.

At first I wanted to discredit my flashbacks because they were contrary to the 'false truths' that I wanted to believe.
After I worked on my perspective, the flashbacks greatly reduced, and nightmares stopped. Interestingly enough, through time, relatives shared that they had witnessed various abuses that I thought were my memory, alone.

The reason accountability serves me, is that many people do not recognize their behavior as abusive, and asking them to do so, is also self-incriminating (for them), for which many people will, themselves as abusers, disassociate and deny. Hence, it can be self-defeating to ask anyone to agree with a memory of mine. Family members are often loyal to upholding family honor, rather than seeing the truth.

Good luck on your quest!

 

[sun seeker]

My heart goes out to you, I know how confusing and frightening this can be.

On the subject of false memories, it's a hot and controversial topic, about which I could go on for some time, but for now I'll just say that there is no scientific basis for the existence of False Memory Syndrome. Having said that, it doesn't mean that the details of our memories are necessarily true. Even non-traumatic memory is a complicated thing.There's a book called Memory and Abuse by Charles Whitfield that you might want to read. I found it excellent. I know you are making the differentiation between memories and flashbacks, but I would say flashbacks are just a different form of memory. Are they 100% accurate? Probably not. But they come from somewhere.

As to how to tell what's real and what's not, you can trust that your body knows the difference. There are somatic therapy techniques that can help. It's best to work with an experienced therapist on this because you need to make sure you are stable enough first. It's something to consider.

 

[WillyKat]

I think you're confusing flashbacks with memory. I've never seen false flashback and I don't believe a flashback is a memory. A flashback is a reaction as if you're being traumatized again. The current situation is still current, you're reactions may be reflective of the original trauma.

So I'm assuming you're asking about false memory.

There's been quite a bit of controversy in the 1990s about so-called false memories. I'm not sure I'd still call it controversial, given there are verified cases of memories that resurfaced later in life and were proven accurate. Granted, there have been cases where the power of suggestion had some clients believing things that never occurred, that doesn't happen every time someone recovers memory. I didn't recover my memories until 15 years after the trauma, and that was before I ever considered seeing a therapist. Nothing was planted in my head.

Here's a couple of articles on the subject:

• Bull, Dennis S. 1999 Spring “A Verified Case of Recovered Memories of Sexual Abuse,” American Journal of Psychotherapy 53:2 p221-224.
• Butler, Katy 1996 Nov/Dec “The Latest on Recovered Memory” Family Therapy Networker 36.

If you want to look up some verified cases, check this: http://blogs.brown.edu/recoveredmemory/case-archive/.

This is a a very, very complicated subject area.

 

[TonyG]

I have crazy dreams that I know didn't happen, seems real but I know it's not.

 

[Orglethorp]

I don't believe in false memories, or flashbacks of false memories, but I do concede that memories aren't always completely accurate. I definitely have felt unsure about the validity of the things I remember, possibly because I survived by pretending none of it happened. I get the same way about my panic attacks. I start mentally berating myself for making a mountain out of a mole hill until I realize I can't calm down and the attack is real.