Customer Reviews

Repressed Memories: A Journey to Recovery from Sexual Abuse (Fireside Parkside Books)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Upon reading this book I was finally able to realize the flashbacks and images that have been haunting me for years.Every turn of the page was another window into my thoughts and emotions offering insight and relief. I was able to piece my feelings together like a puzzle and use that to change my life. This book helped me realize many of the problems I am having and offered me solutions of how to deal with them. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with issues from their past. I can guaruntee that if it helped me it can help many others!

Renee Fredrickson seems to have gone out on a limb writing this book with such honesty and candor. If she were here with me, I'd tell her I can't thank her enough. At no time did the book suggest that average, unsuspecting people have repressed memories as a result of simple, normal things they do. Instead, Fredrickson describes what might suggest the presence of repressed memory syndrome, and describes some steps one can take to figure out whether one has it. The outstanding message I got throughout the book was 'Trust yourself and take an honest look at your own feelings and memories. With the help of a skilled therapist, you can determine whether there is anything bad you've repressed, and if there is, you can deal with it.' I applaud such an author who can put aside the media's (often ridiculous) accusations and see possible abuse survivors' mental health as the priority.

This book is excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone SUFFERING from repressed memories or think they may have been victimized. The empowering exercises are excellent If there were a rating higher than 5 I would give it.

This book is a classic for a reason: it includes the basic psychological outlines of the workings of repressed memories, along with case histories demonstrating various symptoms and after-effects of sexual abuse. It also clearly explains various techniques for aiding memory retrieval, and gives an overview of healing processes. Erickson writes from much experience and compassion as well as knowledge of abuse; she was truly a pioneer in this field.

Along with "Courage to Heal," this book is a must-read for those new to recognition of repressed memories and the journey toward healing. It is both honest and hopeful. I also recently read the most lucid dramatic account of going through the process of recognition of repressed memories: "Yesterday's Warrior" by Heather Harrison. "I Never Told Anyone" is also a great collection of true short stories by women survivors.

I've read alot of survivor books, but for anyone just starting out, Erickson's "Repressed Memories" is probably THE book.

This is a great book! I read it in a day and for the first time in a really long time I do not think I am crazy and have hope that I can recover my childhood memories and deal with the nightmares. Her checklists are great, the way she chronicles the story of Sarah is amazing and gives me soooooo much hope for myself. Also, the flow of the book is excellent and there's not alot of academic writing/jargon. Thank you Renee for writing this book - I wish I had found this sooner!!!

If I had had this book when it was first written (1992), I could probably have saved myself many years of pain. I first had memories come up in 1990 and spent the next full year feeling like I had to throw up and knowing I had more memories coming (I could feel them, but couldn't get to them). I didn't know how to understand and work with myself to let them come. This is THE book I longed for and didn't know existed, and after several years of trying to remember what had happened, I gave up and went on with my life, which only got more and more difficult.

I have read only the first 64 pages since last night (It's going slow because there's so much I want to make notes on) and I have made so much progress with this book in such a short period of time (less than 24 hours) it's sort of shocking. Actually, I'd like to give this book SIX stars!!

My first read on the topic of Sexual Abuse in May of 2001. This book filled in all the gaps for me. I was able to put my own denial away and undergo my healing journey. Renee is concise and to the point. With her checklists I was able to trace a lot of the patterns in my life back to different abuse incidents in my childhood, from there I was able to put them in perspective and find a more positive route to my life. By far this has been one of the best and most helpful books on the topic that I have read.

An important book, not only in the understanding of repressed and recovered memories, but in the understanding that the emotions and fear experienced when one finds oneself faced with flashes of memories long buried are natural. It is also important in that it lets one know that they are not alone.

That having been said, I personally wish there had been more focus on how to deal with the emotions and the fears one faces when confronted with repressed memories. It touches on that a bit, but I personally needing something more constructive and proactive. That is why as vital as I think this book is, it is important to remember that this book is a supplement to proper psychological care during these tough times. Don't let this book be the only help you afford yourself.

As for other negative reviewers claiming that no cases of recovered memories have been documented, this is simply not true and I would venture that many of the negative reviews here are from member of the so-called "false memory syndrome foundation," an organization you should research fully to understand. The Recovered Memory Project out of Brown University maintains a database of over 100 verified cases of recovered memories, and the list continues to grow. The so-called "false-memory syndrome" is as dubious as the Foundation itself.

The last caveat I must add is that if you are involved in a lawsuit over the abuse you suffered, or might be in the future, it is very important that you speak to your attorney before reading this book (or any book on childhood sexual abuse and/or repressed memories) as many attorneys representing perpetrators may attempt to use your familiarity with the book to cast doubt upon your claims.

I too have a lot of hazy images, and idiosyncrasies that never made sense and this book helped me to let go of denial and get honest with myself, but in a gentle way. I would suggest this book to anyone who is on a journey of recovering from sexual abuse.

This book helped me in many ways I have had some troubles with Repressed Memories and my Phsycologist recomended it to me saying its helped a lot of other people and it has helped me to I needed something like this book to help me with all my abuse as a child If your suffering from the horrible pain of Abuse as a child pick up a copy of this wonderfull book it will help you.