What Is Amnesia?

Amnesia is featured by a psychological disorder in which an individual forgets about his or her own identity either partially or fully usually followed by a single or sequential sudden traumatic event. More interestingly, the victim forgets about own-self and the surrounding others, but usually it seems that there is no loss in the ability of general knowledge. It is quite evident that the disorder manifests and affects the memory part of the brain. In general, amnesia can come under two broad categories –

Retrograde amnesia – In this type, the victim is unable to recall the events happened immediately before the trauma.

Anterograde amnesia – In this type, the victim is unable to recall all the events followed by the trauma.

Amnesia can be selective or categorical depending on the individual's ability to recall events relating to the specified traumatic events.

The cause of amnesia has either organic or psychogenic root. Organic amnesia has physiological root, whereas psychogenic amnesia, as its name implies, has psychological root. Organic amnesia can be caused due to head or brain injuries, substance abuse, CO poisoning, malnutrition, electro-convulsive surgery, and infections. On the other hand, psychogenic amnesia can be caused due to stress, emotional trauma, and financial hardship.

Amnesia is state of total loss of memory by a person. He cannot recall identity or anything about his past. Amnesia may be permanent or temporary. One type of amnesia may result from an injury to the head. The person cannot recall the accident or events following the accidents. But still he may be able to carry on his activities and be aware of his surroundings. Unless there has been serious damage to the brain, memory usually returns with in a few days.

There is another kind of amnesia called hysterical amnesia. It may happen when a person tries to remove himself from a situation he can not bear in his personal life. The anxiety has become so great that the person is forced to forget it. This amnesia often arises when the person feels he must suppress many of his natural impulses and feelings. By forgetting his anxiety he also forgets many other things, even including his identity. He may still act in a normal manner, but be unable to recall anything about the past.