Definition
Memory gaps — missing periods, blurred stretches, absent details — can reflect many things: developmental stage, sleep, stress at encoding, trauma-related fragmentation, illness, or medication.
Why it matters
Gaps are often experienced as evidence of something being wrong. In many cases they simply reflect the ordinary imperfection of memory.
The Science
Memory encoding is disrupted by extreme stress, sleep loss, alcohol, dissociation, and certain medications. Gaps do not always mean trauma; trauma is one possible cause.
The NSI Perspective
NSI holds memory gaps with curiosity, not verdict. What is missing is information; the interpretation should follow, not lead.
Clinical Implications
Clinicians should not assume gaps prove trauma — or that they do not. Careful assessment matters.
Practical Application
If your memory has gaps, resist the urge to fill them with the worst possible content. Missing is missing.
References
- 1.McNally RJ. Remembering Trauma. Harvard; 2003.