By:  Sarah Smith-Trawick, LCSW-C

EMDRIA Approved Consultant 

Memory and Trauma: How Our Minds Store and Process Painful Experiences

Memory is a fundamental aspect of human cognition, shaping our identities and guiding our actions. However, when traumatic events occur, memory processes can become disrupted, leading to complex psychological and physiological responses. Trauma affects not only the way memories are stored and recalled but also overall mental clarity, often resulting in confusion, cognitive fog, and difficulties with focus and decision-making. Understanding these effects provides insights into conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and highlights potential pathways for healing.

The Science of Memory and Trauma

Memory is generally divided into three main types: sensory memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. Long-term memory can further be categorized into explicit (conscious) and implicit (unconscious) memory. Traumatic experiences tend t...

Crystal L. Rainey, LCPC

EMDRIA Consultant

Little humans experience trauma too! Children and adolescents are resilient, but this does not mean they are immune to developing PTSD. They process differently than adults which means symptoms may present differently as well. These differences can sometimes lead to misdiagnosis and less effective treatment.

Diagnostic Criteria

The DSM-5-TR requires the presence of the following: Exposure, intrusive symptoms, avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood, and alterations in arousal and reactivity. Duration of symptoms is more than one month, beginning or worsening after the onset of trauma, and causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Sometimes diagnosing PTSD in children and adolescents is easy and clear cut. They are referred to therapy after experiencing a big T trauma such as a car accident and symptoms clearly relate to that trauma. They may have...

By Sarah C. Smith-Trawick, LCSW-C 

EMDRIA Approved Consultant

Have you noticed how trauma seems to be everywhere these days?

By now, most clinicians are familiar with “Big T” traumas such as a car accident, an assault, a natural disaster, or even the death of a significant person in your life.

Are you familiar with “Small t” traumas which could include the loss of a job, a divorce, or infidelity in a romantic relationship?

Traumatic events can also include other persistent adverse experiences including poverty, neglect, community or household violence, and growing up in a home where a caregiver suffers from mental health challenges or substance abuse. We each have our own unique ways of responding to events that overwhelm our system. These events (or series of events) can sometimes alter our worldview and our view of ourselves. What is traumatic to one person may not be considered traumatic to another person. Additionally, while we all might experience symptoms of acute stress a...