But according to a study published in the journal PNAS, suppressing unwanted memories actually interferes with the brain's activity and reduces the likelihood that the event unconsciously influences a person's behavior.
What are symptoms of repressed memories?
Some of these lesser known symptoms include:
- sleep issues, including insomnia, fatigue, or nightmares.
- feelings of doom.
- low self-esteem.
- mood symptoms, such as anger, anxiety, and depression.
- confusion or problems with concentration and memory.
How does repression affect behavior?
Repression is a psychological defense mechanism in which unpleasant thoughts or memories are pushed from the conscious mind. An example might be someone who does not recall abuse in their early childhood, but still has problems with connection, aggression and anxiety resulting from the unremembered trauma.
