Memory loss can be caused by trauma, and it’s a common symptom for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). People suffering from these conditions often have little or no recollection of the traumatic events that caused the disorder; they may also struggle remembering conversations or appointments on a day-to-day basis. This memory loss can improve and reverse with appropriate therapy.
Many people suffering from complex PTSD, in particular, worry that memory loss means they will not be able to work through their past traumas in order to heal. In fact, there are many forms of trauma therapy, and most therapies work with the full inventory of memories, feelings, and physical reactions. Even if these only cover a portion of the entire traumatic event or series of events.
In this article, we explore how trauma affects memory, focusing on PTSD versus CPTSD, whether memory loss is permanent, and how therapies such as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) help in recovery.
Trauma and Memory Loss: What the Research Shows
- Three symptoms of PTSD are centered on memory:
- Intrusive memories — full flashbacks from the event or nightmares
- Avoiding exposure to reminders of the traumatic event
- Having been in the middle of the traumatic event and not being able to remember important aspects of it [1]
People with PTSD may have problems with memory for events outside of the trauma as well. Research found that people with PTSD had significant impairments in episodic memory (i.e. memory for specific events and experiences) compared to individuals without PTSD. These impairments were most pronounced for verbal episodic memory (i.e. memory for stories, lists, etc.). Memory problems could impact treatment for PTSD, particularly talk therapies, and memory should be assessed as part of both assessment and treatment for the condition [1].
How Are PTSD and CPTSD Different
The differentiating factor between PTSD and CPTSD is that CPTSD implies prolonged exposure to trauma, e.g. ongoing abuse in childhood, whereas PTSD is the result of a single, contained traumatic event.
The core symptoms of PTSD are:
- Reliving the trauma through unwanted memories, nightmares or flashbacks
- Avoiding people, places or thoughts that bring the trauma back
- Feeling on edge or always on guard
CPTSD adds three more areas of difficulty:
- Trouble managing strong emotions
- Feeling worthless or bad about yourself
- Withdrawing from others, and in some cases an inability to trust others [2]
Additionally, individuals with CPTSD may experience dissociation. Dissociation can be thought of in several ways: as feelings of being outside of one’s body, as feelings of being disconnected from events in one’s life, or as feeling “in a daze” or disconnected from thoughts.
Dissociation can initially be a means of escaping a prolonged and terrible situation, but it can continue long after the danger has passed and can make it difficult for individuals to be present in the current moment [2].
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) used by clinicians in the United States does not list CPTSD as a separate diagnosis to PTSD, and CPTSD symptoms are included in the diagnosis of PTSD [2].
Common Types of CPTSD Memory Loss
CPTSD memory loss is different for each individual. Common patterns include [1][3]:
Gaps around the time of trauma. A person may not remember a specific event or a whole period of time. Such a form of amnesia is called dissociative amnesia and may last minutes, days or even years.
Missing pieces. They may remember parts of an event but not others. This is sometimes called selective amnesia.
Flashbacks. The person relives some part of the traumatic event as if it were currently happening. Later they may have no memory of what happened while in the flashback state.
Daily forgetfulness. Not remembering conversations, appointments or something read recently, which is related to the decreased verbal memory found in individuals with PTSD.
The majority of individuals with dissociative amnesia are only somewhat aware of their forgotten memories. Others are unaware of their memories completely until the memories return or someone else brings up the forgotten event or activities [3].
Other causes of memory loss can also be ruled out, such as by means of a CT scan, MRI scan, or EEG (analysis of brain activity). Blood and urine tests can determine if there are any toxins in the body, or if the person has been taking drugs [3].
Heavy drinking can also cause memory gaps (blackouts). PTSD and CPTSD often occur together with substance use disorders, which is why treatment of co-occurring disorders addresses both at the same time [2].
Trauma Therapy When Memories Are Incomplete
You do not need to remember the trauma to work through it. People with amnesia about trauma can still have symptoms from the trauma that they are not aware of. Incomplete memories can cause a person to avoid situations or places they (unknowingly) associate with the trauma [3].
It is also important to note that as memories return during the treatment of CPTSD, they may be distorted in some way and may not be accurate unless corroborated by another person’s account of the same event, or by some other concrete evidence (e.g. a document or photograph) [3].
EMDR for Trauma With Missing Details
A number of therapies for the treatment of PTSD are recommended in the 2023 VA/DoD clinical practice guideline from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense. The guideline recommends trauma-focused talk therapies as the first line of treatment for PTSD, including EMDR and cognitive processing therapy (CPT) [5].
For EMDR, a target for therapy can be more than just a memory from the past. It could be a set of thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations which still affect you today. The person receiving EMDR therapy focuses on their target, while the therapist delivers a series of back-and-forth movements, taps, or tones over approximately 30 seconds.
After each set of movements, the person describes any changes they have experienced. The client is taught to use new coping skills, such as imagining a calm, safe place. Most sessions are 50–90 minutes in length and are held once a week for approximately 3 months [6].
Other Trauma Therapies
The trauma-focused treatments in the VA/DoD guideline use exposure and/or cognitive restructuring [5]. Exposure involves safely exposing the individual to reminders of the trauma to reduce their distress. Cognitive restructuring, which means examining and changing unhelpful beliefs about the self and/or others related to the trauma, is also part of these treatments.
At Hanley Center, trauma care also includes approaches that work through the brain and body. Our Center for Brain Recovery offers neurofeedback and biofeedback. Neurofeedback uses real-time readings of brain activity to help patients better regulate. Biofeedback teaches patients to notice and control body signals such as heart rate and breathing.
Our experiential therapies, such as problem-solving games, teamwork and improvisation, help patients connect with their bodies and feel less inhibited. This can help when parts of the trauma are felt in the body more than they are remembered. Our entire campus is trained to foster a trauma-informed environment.
Common Questions About Trauma and Memory Loss
Can PTSD Cause Memory Loss?
Yes. Forgetting the event and its key parts may be a symptom of PTSD. People with PTSD also experience problems with recalling everyday facts, especially verbal information [1].
Is Memory Loss From Trauma Permanent?
Most people with dissociative amnesia are able to recall missing information from their traumatic event over time. Individuals with PTSD may also better recall information in daily life with psychological treatment for PTSD. However, improvements in attention and other cognitive areas are not as significant for PTSD with these types of treatments [3][4].
Memories that surface suddenly can be disturbing and can also increase the risk of self-harm, which is why support matters [3]. If you or a loved one is having thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 to connect with someone who can help immediately.
How Is Trauma Treated When You Cannot Remember It?
Typically, trauma therapy for people with memory loss begins with their current experience of triggers, fear, symptoms, and their current views and feelings about themselves. EMDR and other therapies can use these as targets for processing [5][6]. The therapist does not press for memory that the patient does not have, and does not make up a story for them.
What Matters Most
- Trauma can cause memory loss. People with PTSD report gaps in memory for the trauma as well as problems with other types of everyday memory.
- In addition to PTSD symptoms, a person with CPTSD experiences difficulty with emotions, self-concept, and interpersonal relationships.
- A person with trauma often finds the memories they have forgotten come back after therapy. Studies have shown that, with the right treatment for PTSD, memory can be improved.
- People do not need to have a complete memory of a traumatic event to receive treatment. EMDR and other trauma-focused therapies are designed to process feelings, beliefs, and bodily sensations in response to traumatic events.
Trauma and PTSD Treatment at Hanley Center
Hanley Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, treats individuals struggling with PTSD and complex PTSD — including when compounded by substance use — with licensed therapists practicing from a trauma-informed perspective. Utilizing trauma therapies such as EMDR, we develop an individualized treatment plan to meet the unique needs of our patients.
Our treatment teams for PTSD and complex PTSD work in conjunction with the Center for Brain Recovery, where we offer psychological testing, neurofeedback and biofeedback, along with individual and group therapy. For information on our program and how to begin, please contact our admissions department at (561) 841-1033.
Sources
[1] Petzold, M., and Bunzeck, N. 2022, Sep. Impaired Episodic Memory in PTSD Patients — A Meta-Analysis of 47 Studies. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 909442.
[2] National Center for PTSD. 2026, Sep. Complex PTSD. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[3] Spiegel, D. 2025, Jul. Dissociative Amnesia. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
[4] Susanty, E., et al. 2022, May. The Effects of Psychological Interventions on Neurocognitive Functioning in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 13(1), 2071527.
[5] U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense. 2023. VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[6] National Center for PTSD. 2026, Sep. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Helping During Treatment. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
[7] Talbot, J., et al. 2022, Nov. A Paradigm Shift in Trauma Treatment: Converging Evidence for a Novel Adaptation of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 68(4), 283–285.
