Avpd's improved emocional memory.

Ok, so I was thinking about how it seems like my memory is, at this moment extremely poor in comparison to a couple of years, with the exception of my emocional memory, which is still able not only complete returns to important, mostly painful, past memories with an incredible amount of detail, but also able to quickly store freshly felt emotions and keep it.
I believe this to be common to all avpd, which also supports the "living in the past" that I think matches my life many times.

Now I am wondering: is our emocional memory so GOOD that it makes us avpd, because we can't forget the painful ones, or is it we develop great emocional memory because of avpd?

Just tought it was interesting discussion.

No, I don't think having a "good" memory for emotions makes you AvPD. Lots of people with other disorders or no disorders probably have "better" memories for the things that bothered or hurt them. You are surely correct that a characterisitic of avoidants is to relive or remember those past hurts. I dwell on mine regularly. I just think it's an effect, rather than a cause.

*edit*

my memory is both pitiful and exceptional. I can read a passage from a book and recite it word for word, but it takes me a week or more to remember a new teacher's name, or someone's address.

My memory of significant events, though, be it something unpleasant or just important, is very good.

Syri wrote: it takes me a week or more to remember a new teacher's name, or someone's address

Check out this reference site and in the frame on the left, click on "Memory" under "Manifestations."
http://www.tljones.co.uk/apd/apd.htm
"Avoidants often report having a poor memory particularly for peoples names."

Well, in my post I didn't put my opinion. I also believe it to be an effect and I definitly relate to syri. I too have a terrific memories for written words, but I have a very hard time with people's names and faces.

But my worst memory of all is spacial-temporal. I have such a hard time memorizing paths when driving that I can get lost by just making a wrong curve. It's ridiculous.

I consider myself to have a fairly decent memory, even though I smoke copious quantities of weed. It's poor while stoned for certain things like words and paths but emotions weed amplifies it. I usually remember past emotions fairly well, I can remember someones face almost forever and recognize them very easily in a crowd or years later but not names for $#%^. I can't remember road names either but I memorize the path's and how to get somewhere quite well also. This is always a problem because people will ask me how to get somewhere, and I know how but I can't tell them since I don't know any landmark names or street names. I can also memorize passages like poetry, lyrics, or speeches very well if I put my mind to it. I once memorized a 7 page speech word for word the morning after I wrote it for class. Usually this kind of memory is short lived and fades after a few weeks though. I think in general, my memory for specific names is horrible but pattern recognition is excellent. Emotional memory is decent, average I would say. I do remember the bad things in my past more then the good.

that's a bit like how it is for me; i can remember a speech very easily, but after I'm done needing it, I can't remember a work.

I also misplace things constantly. I'll put something down, and spend a hour looking for it just ten minutes later.

Syri wrote:I also misplace things constantly. I'll put something down, and spend a hour looking for it just ten minutes later.

That is definitely nothing to do with AvPD and if you haven't already, you should probably get checked for ADHD. I pick up random things and deposit them in random places without even thinking, and that is attributed to ADHD.

I have extremely vivid memories of criticisms I have received in the past as well as times when I've felt very awkward. Every time I recall those memories, I feel the pain of being a fool once again. It may or may not have something to do with AvPD, but I would imagine completely neurotypical people would also have the same memories, maybe not in as much detail though.

Syri wrote:
I also misplace things constantly. I'll put something down, and spend a hour looking for it just ten minutes later.

That is definitely nothing to do with AvPD and if you haven't already, you should probably get checked for ADHD. I pick up random things and deposit them in random places without even thinking, and that is attributed to ADHD.

This also happens to me all the time (even while sober) and I have no ADD or ADHD for sure. Sometimes I'll put something down I'm using, then need it within minutes and can't find it for hours only to realize it was right next to me.

I have extremely vivid memories of criticisms I have received in the past as well as times when I've felt very awkward. Every time I recall those memories, I feel the pain of being a fool once again. It may or may not have something to do with AvPD, but I would imagine completely neurotypical people would also have the same memories, maybe not in as much detail though.

As do I! I am always able to remember the very humiliating or hurtful things the easiest as if they happened only minutes ago and I relive the feelings I felt during the moment all over again.