Series 1 Episode 19: Interacting with the World -- Pseudomemories

Sapphire presents an episode on pseudomemories in the DID and OSDD-1 context and compares it with false memories by researching on community information and scientific articles.

Note: I am not a mental health professional. Everything we say in this podcast is based on what works for us and the other people we know. If you are in a crisis, call your local helpline for qualified assistance. Please take good care of yourself while you listen to this podcast.

References in this episode:

False Memory: What You Need to Know by Healthline

How False Memories are Formed in Your Brain by Very Well Mind

False Memory in Psychology: Example & More by Simply Psychology

Case study: Max's Pseudomemories from Mage System

System community definition: Pseudomemories

Personal experiences: Axel talks about Pseudomemories from Acrylic and Aether

Quoting from Dissociative Galaxy Discord server: Definitions written by Black

Pseudomemory is also known as "non-body memory", something which didn't happen to the body but that the alter can remember as if it really happened. The cause may be diverse. The most common ones with systems are memories from very realistic dreams or from an alter's "past", a memory created by the brain to give the alter a fuller identity or from an introjected source. Commonly it forms as a metaphor or cover up for existing body trauma memory, which the system wouldn't really be able to fully process or deal with. For introjects, who split to deal with certain body trauma, it's common to have a background source story that somehow represents the body trauma and therefore they take on the feelings coming from said trauma. Pseudo-memories can simply be there and not affecting the person/alter. But they can also be traumatic and create a PTSD response if triggered. So, it is important to not invalidate anyone who may have pseudo-memories, as for them, it is as real as reality can be. It is important to allow emotional and trauma processing to happen even with pseudo memories, since, as mentioned above, they are very likely to be active representation of body memory and their processing can prepare the system to deal with body trauma. It is also important for introjects to learn how to separate themselves from their source. An introject isn't their source and they must keep this in mind themselves.

Image credits: Did that actually happen? – The Central Trend