As National Fragrance Week comes to an end, we want to invite you to look at our senses from a different perspective – the relationship between our senses and memory. While fragrances often evoke nostalgia or pleasant memories, for survivors of sexual assault, sensory triggers can be profound and distressing. Understanding how the senses intertwine with memory is crucial in comprehending the experiences of survivors and in providing effective support and healing.
Scent and Memory
Scent is one of the most powerful triggers of memory. The olfactory system, responsible for our sense of smell, is closely linked to the brain’s limbic system, which plays a key role in memory and emotion. Fragrances can evoke vivid recollections of past experiences, transporting individuals back to specific moments in time with remarkable clarity.
For survivors of sexual assault, certain scents associated with the traumatic event can become potent triggers, causing flashbacks or intense emotional reactions. Whether it’s the scent of a particular cologne, perfume, or even the smell of alcohol, these olfactory cues can unexpectedly plunge individuals back into the depths of their trauma.
Touch and Memory
The sense of touch is another avenue through which memories are encoded and retrieved. Physical sensations associated with a traumatic experience can imprint themselves deeply within the memory, resurfacing in response to similar tactile stimuli.
For survivors of sexual assault, sensations like the pressure of a hand, the texture of fabric, or the feeling of being restrained can trigger distressing memories of the assault. Even seemingly innocuous touches or sensations can carry the weight of past trauma, leaving survivors feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed.
Hearing and Memory
Sound has the power to evoke memories and emotions, serving as a potent trigger for recollection. Certain sounds or voices associated with the traumatic event can elicit strong emotional responses and transport individuals back to the moment of the assault.
For survivors of sexual assault, the sound of a particular voice, the slamming of a door, or even background noises present during the assault can trigger intrusive memories and heightened anxiety. These auditory cues serve as unwelcome reminders of past trauma, disrupting daily life and causing immense distress.
Sight and Memory
Visual stimuli also play a significant role in memory formation and retrieval. Images associated with the traumatic event, whether it’s the sight of a specific location, object, or person, can trigger vivid recollections and emotional distress.
For survivors of sexual assault, visual triggers can be particularly challenging to navigate. Whether it’s encountering someone who resembles the perpetrator or seeing objects reminiscent of the assault, these visual cues can evoke a range of emotions, from fear and anxiety to anger and sadness.
Taste and Memory
While perhaps less commonly discussed, the sense of taste can also play a role in memory recall. Certain tastes or flavours associated with the traumatic event can trigger distressing memories and emotional reactions.
For survivors of sexual assault, tastes or smells associated with things consumed around the assault, from food to alcohol, can serve as potent triggers, bringing back memories of the trauma in a visceral way. These sensory cues can contribute to feelings of powerlessness and disorientation, further complicating the healing process.
The interplay between the senses and memory is complex and multifaceted, shaping our perceptions of the world and underscoring the complexity of memory and trauma. For survivors of sexual assault, sensory triggers can be particularly challenging to navigate, eliciting intense emotional responses and disrupting daily life.
Understanding the powerful connection between the senses – sensory triggers – and memory is essential in supporting survivors on their healing journey.
If you would like to create an anonymous record of an incident that happened to you, start below.