Key Takeaways
Amnesia is a medical condition that affects memory, making it hard to remember past events or form new memories. Unlike what you’ve seen in movies, it doesn’t typically cause a loss of identity.
People with amnesia can have trouble remembering past events and/or making new memories. Some forms of amnesia are temporary, while others are permanent.
Amnesia is usually brought on by illness, brain injury, or exposure to a traumatic event. The best way to treat amnesia is by addressing the underlying cause.
You’ve probably seen depictions of amnesia in TV or movies. Typically, a character experiences complete memory loss after an accident or traumatic event. They don’t know who they are, and they don’t recognize their loved ones. Technically speaking, these portrayals aren’t totally inaccurate. Amnesia is a real phenomenon that happens when a person experiences sudden memory loss. Or it may involve an inability to retain new memories. However, most of these portrayals fail to acknowledge the many nuances of this diagnosis.
Is amnesia real?
Simply put, yes! Amnesia is very real. But it’s also widely misunderstood. This may be due, in part, to how rarely amnesia occurs on its own. Most of the time, amnesia stems from a neurological event like a stroke, an injury, or exposure to a traumatic event. But for the most part, despite what you’ve seen in the movies, it does not usually involve forgetting your identity.
The two most common forms of amnesia are anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia. Retrograde amnesia causes a loss of past memories. People with anterograde amnesia can recall things from their past but can’t form or retain new memories. Depending on the person and their situation, these symptoms can be either temporary or permanent.
What is amnesia?
People with amnesia have trouble recalling past events and experiences. They may also have trouble learning and retaining new information. Amnesia can stem from many causes. But we know that it often happens because of damage to the area of the brain that’s responsible for memory processing. Amnesia is relatively uncommon, and most people will never experience significant or long-term memory loss.
Some people with amnesia are aware that they’re having memory problems and may feel confused or distressed by the gaps they notice. Others may not fully realize their memory is impaired — especially if the amnesia affects insight or awareness.
While some amnesia is permanent, some people can experience a temporary episode of memory loss called transient global amnesia (TGA). TGA usually resolves within 24 hours and does not cause long-term issues with memory loss. However, TGA is not the same as normal forgetfulness.
How long does amnesia last?
The length of time amnesia lasts depends on its cause. In some cases, memory loss is temporary. For others, it can last longer or become permanent.
Temporary amnesia: With temporary amnesia, memory loss may last hours, days, or weeks. This can happen after a concussion or certain medical procedures. Memory often returns fully or mostly over time.
Long-term or permanent amnesia: Memory loss may not fully resolve when there’s lasting brain damage — like from a stroke, serious head injury, or neurological condition.
Memory recovery: Some memories may return gradually, especially with treatment or rehabilitation. Even when memories don’t come back, many people learn ways to adapt and manage daily life.
Different types of amnesia
There are several types of amnesia. They’re usually defined by which memories are affected and how the memory loss occurs.
Anterograde amnesia: This type of amnesia involves difficulty forming new memories after the onset of amnesia. A person may remember past events but have challenges retaining new information, like recent conversations or daily activities.
Retrograde amnesia: Retrograde amnesia is characterized by difficulty recalling memories from before the amnesia began. This often affects recent memories more than older ones, while the ability to form new memories may remain intact.
Transient global amnesia (TGA): TGA is a sudden, temporary episode of memory loss that usually lasts less than 24 hours. People may repeatedly ask the same questions but typically recover without lasting memory problems.
Dissociative amnesia: With dissociative amnesia, memory loss is related to psychological stress or trauma rather than brain injury. It may involve forgetting personal information or specific events.
Post-traumatic amnesia: This type of amnesia involves memory loss that occurs after a head injury. This can affect both past memories and the ability to form new ones and often improves as the brain heals.
Each type of amnesia has different causes and recovery patterns, which is why evaluation by a medical professional is important.
What causes amnesia?
Causes of amnesia can be certain biological, psychological, and environmental concerns, including:
Stroke
Loss of oxygen to the brain
Severe head injuries like concussions
Seizures
Certain types of brain tumors
Long-term unhealthy alcohol use
Inflammation in the brain due to infections, viruses, cancer, or various autoimmune reactions
Alzheimer’s disease
Sedative medications like benzodiazepines
Risk factors and prevention
Some things that cause amnesia, like exposure to traumatic events, are impossible to prevent. But because amnesia is often the result of injury to the brain, there are some lifestyle choices and preventative measures that may reduce your risk.
Know the signs of a stroke, and seek immediate medical attention if you have any of them. These typically include having a severe headache, numbness on one side of your body, or a loss of mobility on one side of the body. (The signs of a stroke can be different in men and women. Women more commonly experience generalized weakness, fatigue, disorientation, and a change in mental state.)
Take basic safety precautions, like wearing a seatbelt in your car or a helmet when on a bike or motorcycle.
Avoid binge drinking alcohol.
Seek medical treatment for infections, since some of them can travel into the brain.
How to help someone with amnesia
Often, a family member or friend will notice signs of memory loss in a loved one first. So if you begin to notice symptoms of amnesia in someone you care about, know that there are things you can do to support them.
Get a medical evaluation. First and foremost, encourage your loved one to have a medical evaluation. While there is no specific treatment for amnesia alone, addressing the underlying cause can help.
Be patient. Remember that this experience is likely very scary and frustrating for the affected person, so be patient with them. Do your best to create a safe and supportive environment.
Use memory aids. Use basic reminders and memory aids like sticky notes, calendars, alarms, lists, etc.
Don’t take it personally. Don’t take it personally if your loved one can’t recall something important to you. Remember that this isn’t intentional.
Seek professional support. In addition to seeking medical help, encourage your loved one to talk to a mental health professional. Memory loss is emotionally difficult, and working with a therapist can help your loved one develop healthy coping tools.
Clinician's take
Amnesia is real. It’s a medical condition that affects memory, not identity. People with amnesia may forget past events or have difficulty forming new memories, but they don’t suddenly lose who they are or become a different person.
Brandy Chalmers, LPC
Clinical reviewer
Find a therapist with Rula
Throughout our lives, we catalog our experiences as memories. Some are painful, some are joyful, and some are a bit of both. But each one is an important part of our story. Losing the ability to recall these memories or make new ones can be an incredibly challenging experience. This can cause feelings of anger, frustration, fear, grief, and embarrassment.
So if you or someone you care about is living with amnesia, know that it’s okay to ask for help. At Rula, we can connect you with a therapist who understands how memory loss can impact your mental health. Using our therapist-matching program, you can select a provider who takes your insurance and can meet with you as soon as tomorrow. And you’ll get to meet with your therapist from the comfort of your home.
