I recently came across an article by a psychiatry professor titled Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Memory. It explains that PTSD develops when intense fear prevents the traumatic memory from being fully integrated into regular conscious awareness. Because of this, the memory remains fragmented, leading to repeated reliving or re-experiencing of the trauma.
Dr. van der Kolk explains that flashbacks and nightmares occur because these traumatic memories are dissociated or disconnected from normal waking consciousness. (It’s worth noting that the psychiatric definition of dissociation differs somewhat from how it’s used in NLP.)
Typically, we remember past events as stories that can shift and change over time. Even our healthy memories are often altered or distorted. However, in PTSD, the traumatic memories remain fixed and unchanged.
Interestingly, while those with PTSD may hold the memory at an unconscious level, they frequently cannot fully recall the event consciously. This means the memory does not undergo the usual natural modifications or reinterpretations, unlike normal memories that change over time—much like a game of “Chinese whispers.”
People suffering from trauma often experience a mixture of very vivid recollections of certain parts of the traumatic event, while other parts remain forgotten or blank. Although the most striking symptom of PTSD is the intrusive and intense images or sensations related to the trauma, it is equally common to have gaps or complete absences of memory regarding other aspects of the traumatic experience.
From this understanding, it seems that certain NLP approaches like the phobia treatment technique might be challenging if the memory cannot be accessed consciously. In such cases, methods like Time Line Therapy, which can address unconscious memories more effectively, might be a better fit. Both techniques involve working with submodalities, but Time Line Therapy appears more suited for handling memories outside of conscious awareness.