Repressed Memories

Originally Posted by Psychotheosophy

So, it is possible for anybody to repress their conscience.

I recently read about a phenomena called, "Stockholm Amnesia."
Here, victims of abuse identify themselves with their abusers, and so, they defend them.
It can be found in cases of family violence, certain cults, religions, and non-religious groups.

Abusers can secretly implements coercive double binds,
While encouraging the victims to see the abusers,
As trustworthy (such as predicting the future),
Knowledgeable, and similar.

This serves as a deterrent to conscientious objection in opposing the abuse.

You seem to have a fascination with dark extremes that are not the norm of human experience.

Also, double binds are at the shallowest level of covert influence and control.

In the case of people with Stockholm Syndrome, we are not talking about repression. We are talking about an issue with associations and anchors. In some cases perpetrators of abuse will lie and manipulate to get victims to identify with them but that is certainly not needed for Stockholm Syndrome to occur.

Originally Posted by Krishna-prem

Also, double binds are at the shallowest level of covert influence and control.

If double binds aren't working properly anymore,
Abusers may turn toward manipulating brain physiology.
Such as inducing depression, anxiety, rage, memory loss, etc.,
And can lead to unhappiness and helplessness (but also self-blame if you are the instigator.)

In Catholicism,

In these situations, although the ability to reason is diminished, it provides the opportunity to improve virtues,
Virtues ("powers") are reasonable automatic thoughts which do not require much reasoning.
(We can practice moderation (restraint) and courage (doing something happier),
Without thinking much about it.)
Forgiveness is available,
If failure occurs.

The virtue's instantness reflects eternity (no passage of time),
Which is happy (heaven, the perfection of virtue).

Psychotheosophy,

Double binds are over done and often so ineloquent that people see right through them. If you'd like to have a discussion about covert hypnosis, that would be fantastic. If however, you are going to continue to go on and on about guilt and self blame, abusers and victims please consider posting on another board. Your threads here seem to be platform for you to work out whatever it is going on in your head and this is not the appropriate place.

Originally Posted by Krishna-prem

Double binds are over done and often so ineloquent that people see right through them.

Not true.

Depression, anxiety, rage, difficulty reasoning, and memory loss, are all symptoms of clinical depression.
Some cases of clinical depression are described as caused by underlying (repressed) feelings of anxiety.
Underlying (repressed) feelings of anxiety may be caused by the self-guilt induced by double binds.
This repressed anxiety can be difficult to identify, especially if you are accustomed to it.

In Catholicism,

Since you are not able to consciously address repressed anxiety with reason,
Simultaneously allowing your self to feel the anxiety,
While praying the rosary removes it.

It is difficult to defend the innocent in the confusion of double binds,
You may be consciously defending yourself as innocent,
And consciously blaming the offender,
But unconsciously blaming yourself,
(Which can lead you to identify,
With your abuser.)

The self-blame is perpetuated,
(Since we don't seek forgiveness,)
And we fall deeper into the unconscious cycle of,
"Doing what makes you happy means doing what makes you unhappy."

Originally Posted by Psychotheosophy

In Catholicism,

Since you are not able to consciously address repressed anxiety with reason,
Simultaneously allowing yourself to feel the anxiety,
While praying the rosary removes it.

So it is good to "offer up" anxiety itself, while praying the Our Father Prayer (said in the rosary),
Where we say, "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Because, as in double binds, the unwillingness to forgive others,
Means that you are also condemning yourself,
Without, perhaps, realizing it.

PTSD can lead to repressing your guilt,
And PTSD is often treated with relaxation techniques.
Simply passing strung beads through your fingers, as in other spiritualities,
Has been shown to have a calming effect, however, I believe that the rosary is more than a relaxation technique.

In Catholicism,

According to St. John of the Cross (The Dark Night, Book I, Ch. 12, Sect. 2 and 4),
The main benefit of detachment is, "the knowledge of self and of one's misery."
So, if you have difficulty feeling the repressed anxiety and guilt,
For the purpose of being more forgiving and loving,
Detachment might be helpful.

"Whom will teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Is 28:9-10);

"Many will run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Dan 12:4)

Through detachment,
knowledge and feelings usually appear gradually.

Originally Posted by Psychotheosophy

"Whom will teach knowledge, and to whom will he explain the message? Those weaned from the milk, those taken from the breast? For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little." (Is 28:9-10)

For example,
When wealthy in material goods,
It is difficult to see when you are poor in happiness.

In Catholicism,

Repentance and forgiveness does two things,
Accepting the authority of goodness over evil,
And regaining the powers of the soul (mind and will).

By reducing the anxiety of guilt, we think more clearly and act more freely.
Similar to agility and clarity of the glorified body once transfigured (e.g. Acts 9:3).
(We believe that a transfiguration occurs when the soul has complete dominion over the body, all under goodness itself.)

We believe that the soul gives the body life and unity.
And as the Holy Spirit is called the "Soul" of the Church,
And as the Church is symbolically called, "The Body of Christ,"
We believe that at the end of time, the Church becomes "Transfigured."

By the way, here is a link for The Dark Night:
http://www.karmel.at/ics/john/dn.html

Originally Posted by Psychotheosophy

Through detachment,
knowledge and feelings usually appear gradually.

More specifically,...

"Therefore the Lord will be to them precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little; that they may go backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Is 28:13)"

"Many will run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase." (Daniel 12:4)

Some detach from changeable things, and grow in knowledge,
While others who remain undetached from changeable things, fall deeper into their repressed shame and anxiety.

"The grade of the transfiguration of the body, according to 1 Cor 15:41 et seq., will vary according to the degree of clarity of the soul, which is in proportion to the measure of the merits." (Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Dr. Ludwig Ott.)

"In all things, both high and low, let God be your goal, for in no other way will you grow in merit and perfection" (Maxims and Counsels, Degrees of Perfection, #8, St. John of the Cross)"

"And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3)

"And you will stand at your allotted place at the end of days." (Daniel 12:13)

And detachment affects the grade of transfiguration
(Which contradicts many false and ever changing maxims and counsels that abusers can suggest).

"Many souls... are often worried because they do not have the material means with which to carry out an act of mercy. Yet spiritual mercy, which requires neither permission nor storehouses, is much more meritorious and is within the grasp of every soul (Jesus Christ, from The Diary of St. Maria Faustina, #1317)."

Besides relaxation techniques,
The treatment of PTSD includes having the victim,
Present their traumatic experience in a non-threatening environment.
However, it is easy for counselors to become accusing while unaware of their own anxiety and guilt.