I meant "how to tell if a memory is real or not", sorry
[PT: Welcome! Please, take a seat.]
No worries. /genuine
There is no such thing as a "fake" memory. False Memory Syndrome (FMS) is not real. Memories can be unreliable and/or include details that are unintentionally altered (or intentionally, in some cases), but they aren't "fake." However, memories are not necessarily things that happened exactly as you remember. One might have memories hidden behind a different scenario (like happening in a different place).
Figuring out what aspects of the memory are and are not warped can be difficult without digging up trauma. Either way, the trauma (the reaction) is still real even if the event has been warped and should be treated as such.
Addendum: I would like to correct myself slightly here. While "false" or "fake" memories are not a real thing, but confabulation is. It is often the result of another disorder (schizophrenia, TBIs, etc.). My response here was slightly pedantic, but the difference is important to make as "False Memory Syndrome" has been used to dismiss people's traumatic experiences and I wanted to be clear that there is little-to-no evidence supporting its existence. Remembering something that didn't happen is a thing, but it is often created by a disorder or to cover up/alter traumatic memories.
[PT: The owner of this blog is anti-endo, anti-radqueer, and anti-proship. If you are a supporter of these, kindly do not interact!]
