Somatization

Signs of Memory Retrieval

Cynthia A. Byrtus, Social Movements Research Group
PO Box -  Boulder CO, 80306 (303)443-1486
(Edited and Adapted 9/5/10 Rob Pramann, PHD)

(Symptoms increase as the awareness of the memory increases and “comes closer”)

1.       *headache, mild to severe

2.       *Pressure at base of the head (or lower skull)

3.       *Stiff neck

4.       Eyes become cloudy, reddened, tired, and depressed looking.

5.       *Eyes become sensitive to light

6.       *Pupil dialation

7.       *Pressure behind or around the eyes

8.       Chest pains

9.       Difficulty breathing

10.   Shortness of breath

11.   Pressure on chest area

12.   Heart fluttering/palpitations

13.   Nausea

14.   Acid stomach

15.   *Dizziness or lightheadedness

16.   Diarrhea

17.   *General feeling of tiredness

18.   *Mood swings

19.   Depression, mild  to severe

20.   Clammy, sweaty palms and feet

21.   Sweating

22.   Stomach aches

23.   Visual Flashbacks

24.   *Mental confusion

25.   *Irritability

26.   “Sense” memory

27.   Fears

28.   Phobias

29.   Strange tastes or smells (not due to eating, injury, or surroundings stimuli)

30.   Auditory Hallucinations

31.   Body aches or pains.  Different body parts or areas can feel hurt or painful.  It is usually an off and on pattern during a 24 hour period or longer.  These are sometimes called a body or tissue memory.

*indicates symptoms that also accompany “switching”   or internal “movement” among parts

Signs of Switching (or internal movement among parts)

1.       Headache

2.       Pressure inside the head

3.       Stiff neck – (usually not as intense as with memory retrieval)

4.       Pressure at the base of the head – (less intense than with memory retrieval)

5.       Pupil dilation

6.       Pressure behind the eyes

7.       Blurry vision – (clears, then becomes blurry)

8.       Eyes become watery or classy, glazed in appearance.  Eyes can also appear reddened without memory retrieval.  Reddened eyes without memory symptoms means that part is functioning that has repressed materials attached to it.

9.       Eyes more sensitive to light

10.   Lightheadedness or dizziness

11.   Chills

12.   Eats ring

13.   Physically feeling shorter than usual

14.   Emotionally feeling more child-like

15.   Mood swing – a change in mood

16.   Thought pattern change – thoughts change about same subject and your response changes with it

17.   Feelings and emotions change, that is, change about same situation

18.   Objects and people look different.  Dimensions are off, colors can look brighter or dimmer

19.   Body looks and feels detached

20.   Voice changes, voice intonation or inflection changes

Common Triggers (That Cause Switching or Memory Retrieval)

1.       Stressors (Daily living stresses – these are a major cause).  Examples

a.        Fighting with spouse or friend

b.      Observing a fight

c.       Having sexual intercourse

d.      Paying rent

e.      Problem solving

f.        The age of your child (especially the age when your trauma occurred)

2.       Something someone says

3.       Past perpetrator

4.       People who look like past perpetrators

a.       Someone that holds same kind of job perpetrator (for example, ministers, clergy)

b.      Same similar location or venue

c.       Mannerism or laugh is similar

5.       Certain times of year (anniversary dates)

6.       Objects

7.       Emotions (similar) such as anger, fear, etc.

8.       Colors

9.       Smells (cologne, perfume, odors, etc.)

10.   Sounds

11.   While in therapy, working on memory

12.   Pulling memory too fast in therapy

13.   Lack of sleep

14.   Touch

15.   Not having enough balance (fun vs. processing)

16.   Drugs and/or alcohol