In early 2016, Juliet Owen-Nuttall, a trained chef and former wedding cake decorator, decided to bake a cake. Despite having done it many times before, she found herself unable to remember how. This was due to the traumatic experience she had endured over the past few months. Juliet and her husband had fallen victim to a scam while trying to move to Costa Rica, resulting in the loss of their life savings and forcing them to live in difficult conditions on the beach. The emotional pain caused her memory and basic skills to deteriorate.
What Juliet experienced is a common phenomenon that occurs during times of high emotional stress, trauma, and grief. It is often described as a “fog” or a disconnection from reality. Memory loss, or dissociative amnesia, is more severe than ordinary forgetfulness and can’t be explained by other medical conditions. It is more prevalent in women and can last for days, months, or even years.
For Sophie, who experienced the loss of a baby during childbirth, memory loss has become a daily struggle. She frequently forgets everyday things, such as leaving her bag behind or forgetting names. This has been frustrating and costly for her, as she was previously very organized.
Dr. Chloé Rowland, a clinical psychologist, explains that during intense stress, the brain’s memory hub (the hippocampus) and emotional center (the amygdala) can go offline due to the release of chemicals like cortisol. This impairs the memory formation process, resulting in fragmented memories when they start to return.
Memory is a remarkable function of the mind, but it can be easily disrupted. There are four stages of memory formation: encoding, consolidation, recall, and accessing information when needed. Distractions or heightened emotional stress can interfere with these stages and lead to memory difficulties.
During periods of crisis, people may experience intense focus, similar to being in a fight. It’s like an adrenaline rush that sharpens their senses. However, memory issues may arise later on, as the brain processes the trauma.
Asking for support during this time can be challenging due to the lack of understanding and vocabulary surrounding this issue. The practical difficulties caused by memory loss can add to the distress and feelings of not being oneself. However, the brain is not permanently affected, and treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) can help individuals navigate through the after-effects of trauma and stress.
After her own experience, Juliet Owen-Nuttall turned to practices that had once come naturally to her, such as baking, cooking, and studying. Through therapy and introspection, she was able to regain her sense of self and even became pregnant naturally. Now, she works as a fertility wellbeing practitioner and shares her story to help others who may be going through similar challenges.