The Forgotten

Forget Me Not

My book Captured Heart tells the story of a young woman whose lost her memory and the impact that has on her and the husband she forgot.

Today there has been much research into the causes and reasons for amnesia. But what would it be like for someone who has amnesia in the nineteenth century, when very little was known about the condition. In the time allowed me, to conduct my research for this book. I found very little information out there to successfully provide me with the information I needed. Therefore I tried to use information I gathered along with common sense to determine possible outcomes.

I asked myself how would I feel if I forgot my loved ones, if I forgot the life I used to have, if I forgot who I was? And use that instinctive response to formulate how I was going to write my character and the reaction by those who she forgot.

It has to feel like bits of you floating away.













First, let's tackle the causes of memory loss:

Memory loss or amnesia as we now know it can be temporary or permanent. However the term amnesia is generally given to the short-term variety of memory loss. The causes include brain or head injury, as well as a few known drugs, which can cause memory loss, alcohol or traumatic events. There is also the condition known as Alzheimer's disease which also causes memory loss and deterioration.

Types of Amnesia:

Anterograde amnesia is the inability to create new memories due to brain damage, while long-term memories from before the event remain intact.

Retrograde amnesia is inability to recall memories before onset of amnesia.

Post-traumatic amnesia is generally due to a head injury (example: a fall, a knock on the head).

Although I have a degree in psychology. To clearly explain these conditions goes beyond the scope of this post. Also these terms were not used in the period depicted in my story. However it's an interesting concept and one I really wanted to share here.

Now let image the impact to the individual who has loss there memory.

Although I don't doubt this would be the effects of someone today. I do believe we were made of sterner stuff back in the old day. The mortality rate, living conditions, climate and treacherous terrain. Losing one's memory, may have been considered a blessing to some and a curse to others. Either way I have no way of telling other than looking back at the grit and determination of the pioneers of America.

They would be more likely to  shake it off and make the best of it. As long as there was life there was hope. Please remember these are my opinions not fact.

I would imagine it would have been a lot harder for those who were forgotten. Loved ones whose memories of what they had would hurt them greatly. I also believe the forgotten would experience similar emotions as a person who'd lost their memory.

Memory loss could be likened to a bereavement for the forgotten as well as the individual. How they come to terms with that loss can take various forms as in the seven stages of grief.

The seven emotional stages of grief are:
shock or disbelief,
denial,
bargaining,
guilt,
anger,
depression,
acceptance/hope.
Symptoms of grief can be emotional, physical, social, or religious in nature. In my story I tackled this concept on all four levels, but more focus was given to the emotional and religious side of dealing with loss.

I hope you get a chance to read Captured Heart and it gives you as much joy and pleasure as it did for me writing it.

I'm Sandra E Sinclair Author of Captured Heart, the next book in the Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs Series.

I hope you found this post interesting.

Sandra E Sinclair
For a list of Sandra E Sinclair Books: Here