a distressing memory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a distressing memory" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a recollection that causes feelings of sadness, anxiety, or discomfort. Example: "The photograph brought back a distressing memory of the day we lost our family pet."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

People who perform a cognitively demanding secondary task while recalling a distressing memory often experience the memory as less emotional, vivid, or accurate during subsequent recollections.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry

So pharmacological approaches to lessen the strength with which a distressing memory is locked into the brain need to be administered within that short window.

BBC

They were clinically interviewed and physiological recordings made over a two-hour period pre, during and post two acute stressors: the cold pressor test and recalling a distressing memory.

Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

It feels natural to brood and ruminate over a distressing event, memory, or worry, to stew over an angering or upsetting thought that keeps popping into our heads.

Huffington Post

This week's big news topic on the fanboy circuit has unearthed distressing memories for me of a certain A-list actor doing jaw-droppingly awful things to one of my most loved comic-book heroes as a kid: Daredevil.

The Guardian - Film

This study has extended previous work by investigating the utility of CB-Education and CBM in targeting a distressing intrusive autobiographical memory rather than a memory of a laboratory-based stressor, and importantly, by including a control condition.

Behaviour Research and Therapy

The new DSM-5 (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) makes a distinction between "recurrent, involuntary, and intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event(s)" (Criterion B1) and "dissociative reactions (e.g., flashbacks) in which the individual feels or acts as if the traumatic event(s) were recurring" (Criterion B3).

Cognition and Emotion

Patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) often experience distressing memories during recovery that have been associated with poor psychological and cognitive outcomes.

Australian Critical Care

He had talked with a PIRg member during the recruitment phase of the study and she sat with him, and stayed till he was more composed and, with his permission, told a care worker that the interview had evoked distressing memories.

BMC Palliative Care

Oro students first off the mark to play Riskland Twelve-year-old Archie Ohusa still holds distressing memories of his home town, Popondetta, ravaged by a cyclone five years ago and he fears it can happen again.

Unicef

It is characterized by intrusive and distressing memories or dreams, dissociative reactions, and substantial psychological or physiological distress related to the event (Table 28) [ 26].

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about sensitive topics, using the phrase "a distressing memory" can help to convey the emotional impact without being overly graphic or explicit.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary intensifiers like 'very' or 'extremely' before "a distressing memory". The word 'distressing' already implies a significant level of emotional discomfort.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a distressing memory" functions as a noun phrase, where 'distressing' acts as a descriptive adjective modifying the noun 'memory'. It denotes a specific type of memory characterized by its unpleasant or troubling nature. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a distressing memory" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase to describe a recollection that causes emotional discomfort. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is correct and functional in English writing. While relatively rare, it is found in various contexts, particularly in science and news media. When using this phrase, be mindful of avoiding redundancy and consider alternative phrasings to precisely convey the specific emotional tone. Some alternatives are: "a painful memory", "a traumatic memory" or "an upsetting memory".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a painful memory

Replaces 'distressing' with 'painful', focusing on the emotional suffering caused by the memory.

a traumatic memory

Emphasizes the deeply disturbing and life-altering nature of the memory.

an upsetting memory

Uses 'upsetting' to convey a sense of emotional disturbance, less intense than 'distressing'.

an unpleasant memory

Replaces 'distressing' with 'unpleasant', indicating a generally disagreeable recollection.

a troubling memory

Highlights the anxiety and worry associated with the memory.

a haunting memory

Suggests that the memory continues to affect the person long after the event.

a bitter memory

Indicates a memory filled with resentment and disappointment.

a sorrowful memory

Focuses on the sadness and grief associated with the memory.

a regretful memory

Emphasizes feelings of remorse and wishing things had been different.

an agonizing memory

Highlights the intense suffering and torment caused by the memory.

FAQs

How can I use "a distressing memory" in a sentence?

You can use "a distressing memory" to describe a recollection that causes emotional pain or discomfort. For example, "The old house evoked "a distressing memory" of her childhood."

What are some alternatives to "a distressing memory"?

You can use alternatives such as "a painful memory", "a traumatic memory", or "an upsetting memory", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a distressing memory" formal or informal?

"A distressing memory" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as it is a relatively neutral and widely understood phrase.

What makes a memory "distressing"?

A memory is considered "distressing" if it causes significant emotional discomfort, such as sadness, anxiety, or fear. It often involves recollections of negative or traumatic events.