All,
Those of you that have recovered repressed memories, have you ever recovered a happy memory? Is this a common occurrence?
I heard a song last week that immediately triggered an almost overwhelming feeling of love and belonging, and my memory of my summer camp puppy love romance back when I was 8 years old was restored to me.
I've never felt pure love so intensely before or since. It was one of the happiest experiences of my life, and it had been locked away from me for over 40 years!
Prior to this I had assumed that repressed memories were all traumatic and best left alone. Now I'm wondering how many happy memories I've lost. Now I'm ambivalent about what I should do.
Best,
-Slashy
Hi Slashy,
I wrote this yesterday, so I'll quote it:
"I am currently reading an autobiography by Nicki Chapman, and that is really enjoyable. She is a lovely character and I didn't really know much about her experiences before - she's a similar age to me so she writes about music and popular culture that I remember and once again, it's helping me to jog my memories, and bringing up some memories that are pleasant as well as some more challenging ones. I like the balance of that. I appreciate her writing about her life and experiences."
I am just giving it as an example to what you wrote, because I have found that reading autobiographies and biographies that cover similar time periods to my own life have helped me to drip-feed some memories, and I have found that positive ones come up as well as other ones.
I love the fact that your summer camp puppy love romance came back to you. How wonderful to feel the emotion of that restored memory and know it was part of your life. I realise there could also be feelings of grief regarding the fact it was locked away from you for over 40 years, but I'm glad that your lovely memory was restored to you.
Best,
Hope
I went through a progression of feelings about this repressed memory, eventually hanging up at the point that it doesn't fit who I am. I've spent my entire life having *not* felt that emotion, and then suddenly I need to incorporate it in my life experience.
I felt like nobody on Earth could possibly relate to this dichotomy and didn't even think to consult my own GF! :Idunno:
Yes, absolutely the repression of happy memories is a thing. It has defined her entire life! She's always happy in the moment, but never retains the long term memory of it. :hug: It makes her who she is, so the triggering of happy memories confuses her even *more* than the recall of this event confused me.
In any case, mystery solved.