Admiration sparks for those who effortlessly remember names, be it people, movies, songs, or books—a skill I envy. In a recent group activity, my struggle with recalling song titles and artists became evident. Understanding names' difficulty, I've learned that repetition helps, yet embarrassment lingers when memory fails. My therapist suggested trauma's link to memory issues, leaving me hopeful for future healing and the return of names—a potential gift.
The author recounts a traumatic past relationship marked by co-dependence, manipulation, jealousy, emotional abuse and infidelity. A therapy session highlighting values, relationship red flags, and dealing with trauma brought forth overwhelming memories of these experiences. The author's ex-partner's lack of consideration and unkind accusations, stemming from his potential antisocial personality disorder, amplified the author's own struggle with borderline personality disorder, adding emotional intensity, conflict, and trauma to the relationship.