Post-Traumatic Amnesia (PTA) is a common cognitive disorder that affects veterans or active-duty military who have experienced traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), often due to combat-related explosions, vehicle accidents, or physical trauma. Understanding the signs and recovery process is important for effective treatment and supportive help. Read on to learn more about this challenging condition.
What is Post Traumatic Amnesia?
PTA is experienced by veterans as feeling confused or disoriented. Typically, they will have a loss of memory and an inability to form new memories. PTA causes a significant impact on daily life, relationships, and the ability to rehabilitate.
Following a TBI, a veteran may experience a temporary memory impairment (a PTA). The individual may struggle to form new memories, remember recent events, or even recognize familiar people. This condition may last from a few minutes to a number of weeks or months, depending on how severe the injury is.
PTSD Memory Loss: A Coping Mechanism
While PTA can be distressing in and of itself, memory loss may actually be the brain’s way of protecting itself from enormous pain until the person is ready to work through the trauma. This may be a benefit to the brain’s way of:
- Preventing emotional overload: Survivors may be helped in their day to day functions by blocking memories.
- Avoiding triggers: Flashbacks and panic attacks can be reduced by suppressing memories.
- Facilitating survival mode: Details in memory may be lost as the brain focuses on survival during trauma.
- Self-preservation: Recalling all the details of the traumatic event could be overwhelming.
Although PTA can provide these protections in the short term, it can also interfere with:
- Personal accountability due to difficulties in recalling events accurately.
- Work, personal relationships, and one’s sense of self.
- Processing trauma in therapy may become harder if memories are blocked.
Signs of Post-Traumatic Amnesia
It’s important to recognize the signs of PTA, including [1]:
- Memory Loss: Inability to recall events before (retrograde amnesia) or after (anterograde amnesia) the injury. Forgetting conversations or recent activities.
- Confusion and Disorientation: Not knowing the date, time, or location. Difficulty recognizing family members or friends.
- Agitation or Emotional Instability: Restlessness. Mood swings, irritability, or aggression. Anxiety or depression.
- Difficulty with Concentration: Trouble following instructions. Short attention span.
- Repetitive Questions: Asking the same questions repeatedly due to an inability to retain new information.
- Difficulty recognizing people: This may include family and friends.
- Wandering: Some may wander, this is concerning, especially if there are physical injuries.
What PTSD Is and How It Affects Veterans
Trauma can trigger Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition. As the brain struggles to process the event, an individual may experience flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and emotional numbness. The brain’s ability to process and store memories is affected in PTSD in these main areas:
- Hippocampus: Where new memories form, it often shrinks, affecting recall.
- Amygdala: Where fear is processed, it becomes hyperactive, reinforcing traumatic memories.
- Prefrontal cortex: Where emotions are regulated, it may be unable to control the intrusive thoughts of PTSD.
These changes can lead to:
- Dissociative amnesia, in which parts or all of a traumatic event are forgotten.
- Memory fragmentation occurs when a person remembers only flashes of the trauma and without any context.
- Difficulty recalling everyday details such as names, dates or routine tasks due to stress.
Service-Related Trauma
Combat Service members risk death or injury. They are also on constant alert. As well they are at high risk of TBIs due to [2]:
- Blast injuries from explosives.
- Falls or vehicle accidents.
- Gunshot wounds or physical assaults.
- Repeated mild TBIs (e.g., from training or sports).
These injuries disrupt brain function, leading to PTA and other cognitive deficits.
As well, Combat Service members are at risk for death or injury. They may see others hurt or killed. They may have to kill or wound others. They are on alert around the clock. These and other factors can increase their chances of having PTSD or other mental health problems [3].
How Trauma Affects Military & Veteran Families
Military trauma can impact all members of the family, as well as close friends and extended family. Service members are often unsure if, or how, to open up to their spouses about their experiences. At times, they may want to protect their loved ones from the traumatic events that occurred.
They may also experience stigma about having PTA or PTSD. Spouses may struggle to know how to offer support, and children may not know how to express their worry about a parent [4].
What Happens During a PTSD Episode?
When you have PTSD, the world feels unsafe. You may have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping. You may also try to avoid things that remind you of your trauma—even things you used to enjoy.
For a diagnosis of PTSD, you must have all of the below [5]:
- Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms).
- Avoiding things that remind you of the event.
- Having more negative thoughts and feelings than before the event.
- Feeling on edge or keyed up (also called hyperarousal).
Treatment Options for PTSD
PTSD can be treated with a combination of therapies and in some cases, medication. The US Department of Veterans Affairs recommends three evidence-based approaches as most clinically proven to be effective [5].
What to Expect in a Trauma Treatment Program
A trauma-informed treatment program is one in which the therapists or counselors are specially trained to work with those with trauma. The main elements of a treatment program include:
- Trauma-Informed Therapy
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT): Helps reframe traumatic thoughts.
- Prolonged Exposure Therapy: Gradually confronts traumatic memories in a safe setting.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): Aids in processing fragmented memories.
- Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques
- Meditation and breathing exercises reduce anxiety, making it easier to recall memories without distress.
- Grounding techniques (e.g., focusing on the present) help when memories feel overwhelming.
- Journaling and Memory Triggers
- Writing about experiences (when ready) can help piece together fragmented memories.
- Photos, music, or familiar places may gently trigger recall in a controlled way.
- Support Systems
- Talking to trusted friends, family, or support groups reduces isolation.
- Loved ones should avoid forcing memories and instead offer patience.
- Medical and Holistic Approaches
- Medications (like SSRIs) may help manage PTSD symptoms.
- Exercise, art therapy, and yoga can support brain health and emotional regulation.
Residential Trauma Treatment Centers
Post-Traumatic Amnesia is a significant challenge for veterans recovering from TBIs. Recognizing the signs and providing appropriate medical, cognitive, and emotional support can greatly enhance recovery.
For some, the supportive environment of a residential treatment center may be recommended for recovery from PTA. These provide a structured environment which may be preferred by veterans or active-duty members used to military structure. 24/7 care is provided with medical staff available as needed.
Therapy programs employ a range of approaches to individual, group, and family therapy. Holistic therapies are available as well, offering alternatives to traditional talk therapy.
Recovery varies based on injury severity, but most veterans gradually regain memory and cognitive function. Key aspects of recovery provided in treatment centers include:
- Medical Assessment and Monitoring
- Cognitive Rehabilitation
- Psychological Support
- Family and Social Support
- Gradual Return to Activities
With proper treatment, many veterans regain their memory and quality of life, though some may require ongoing care. Increased awareness and resources for TBI and PTA are essential in supporting our veterans’ health and well-being.
Finding PTSD Treatment
Several resources are available for veterans with PTA:
Receive Trauma-Informed Care at Miramar Health
Miramar Health is a veteran-owned and operated recovery program exclusively serving veterans. Our mission is to free veterans from America’s mental health and addiction crisis and to empower them to create a better future for themselves and their families.
We understand the complex nature of trauma and offer individualized treatment options that are specific to veterans. Take the first step to your recovery. You’re not alone. Reach out to our Admissions team today.
Sources
[1] Headway. Post-traumatic amnesia.
[2] Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies. Fact sheet. Military Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
[3] US Dept. of Veterans Affairs. National Center for PTSD. Combat Exposure.
[4] Mass General Brigham Mclean. The Effects of Trauma on Military Members and Their Families.
[5] US Dept. of Veterans Affairs. National Center for PTSD. PTSD Basics.
