Episode 49: Trauma Responses and Recovered Memories in Gerald’s Game

Jessie, the main character, provides an example of several trauma responses, including distressing memories of the event, avoidance of peope/place/things related to the event, and di sconnection from other people. Although her hallucinations of herself/her deceased husband may be related to her dehydration and hunger, they also represent the various mechanisms through which she has been repressing or avoiding memories of her abuse.

References:

VA source on PTSD: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/isitptsd/common_reactions.asp

Wikipedia page for the psychiatrist who wrote Michelle Remembers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Pazder

Orth, M. (Feb 7, 2014). 10 undeniable facts about the Woody Allen sexual-abuse allegation. Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2014/02/woody-allen-sex-abuse-10-facts

Otgaar, H., Howe, M. L., Patihis, L., Merckelbach, H., Lynn, S. J., Lilienfeld, S. O., & Loftus, E. F. (2019). The Return of the Repressed: The Persistent and Problematic Claims of Long-Forgotten Trauma. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(6), 1072–1095. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619862306

Zizza, A. A. (2014). " Remembering a Thing and Reliving a Thing Does Not Confer an Obligation to Tell About a Thing:" Perspectives on Child Abuse in Stephen King's Gerald's Game. Iperstoria, (3).