The best way to find out is by talking to a therapist, who can help you uncover things from your past. If you can't remember anything before the age of three, that's okay. Parenting is an act of nurturing which can be considered completely selfless as children completely forget how they have been treated in childhood. Because most people have experienced significant trauma that is related to . Im not fixed or repaired or whatever, but those things worked for me. Forgetting childhood experiences might be a function of the normal course of development but it can also be indicative of repressed memories. With support, it can be possible to build yourself back up again, and have relationships that feel fulfilling, without experiencing the need to check out. You are also correct that having so few memories is unusual. Why can't I remember my teenage years? Experiencing physical, emotional, or sexual abuse can trigger an overwhelming fear response in your brain. The inability to remember childhood due to trauma is known as Childhood Trauma Amnesia (CTA). Learning Mind 2012-2022 | All Rights Reserved |, 10 Signs of Unresolved Trauma from Your Childhood and How to Deal with It, How to Improve Your Written Language Skills with 13 Science-Backed Tips, Why Having the Last Word Is So Important for Some People & How to Handle Them, 8 Most Common Reasons Why People Forgive a Cheating Partner, How to Humble an Arrogant Person: 7 Things to Do, 9 Undeniable Signs You Are Wiser Than You Think, If there are unresolved issues, work together to figure out. My next step on my personal journey is to go for hypnotherapy to see if theres anything hidden I need to work on. A person who struggles in their sexual interpersonal relationship might have some repressed memories of sexual trauma. They can be caused by strokes, head injuries, lack of vitamins in your diet, or sleep trouble. As you're probably well aware, there are connections between the experiences you had growing up and the way you experience life as an adult. It doesn't happen for everyone, but according to experts, certain thoughts you have may indicate that this is happening to you. Listening to music of that time: music is a great way to activate memories. It used to be thought that the reason we can't remember much of our early childhood is because, as young children, we just aren't able to make stable memories of events. Another factor, however, is the ability of the brain to recall our memories. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. One thing that I find quite strange that makes it hard the healing process of everything that makes me feel bad and to understand how my upbringing influenced me is that I can't remember well my childhood and some teenager years (I'm 17 now). Thank you so much Sherrie for the kind and considerate reply I am spiritual and at 43 have been learning a lot over the past couple of years about all things I would have considered woo woo not so long ago lol! Once you know, you can start to make changes, and work on managing your anxiety. Abuse, bullying, neglect, and more can leave scars that don't fade even over a lifetime. Other ways are: Reviewing photographs. What Might Be Going On. Im a woman who is inspired by women who empower women :). Another sign of unresolved trauma is falling into addictive behavior. Its important to note that traumatizing events dont have to be physical to leave a scar on your psyche. Bill became irreligious in youth then spiritual much later: My relationship with organized religion changed forever after being subjected to humiliation and mild electric shock ("all in fun . There, youll also find thoughts and questions by our community. A few days ago, I saw a movie at Alamo Drafthouse, and before the previews, a couple behind me talked matter-of-factly about . Additionally, the reason for why child support is being waived must be stated in this document. "Repressed childhood memories or amnesic blocks can be indicative of trauma.. Become a Mighty contributor here. According to Elicia Miller, emotional healing coach and founder of Core Emotional Healing, these thoughts occur because that may have been what you experienced and learned about yourself growing up. . Because people who are depressed might have difficulty focusing, which can prevent your brain from creating new memories. But depression isn't permanent,. It's important that we not take a catastrophic view that we can't remember our life and recognize that we're having difficulties with on-demand recall of our personal memories. My senior year, I started restricting food. Learning Mind has over 50,000 email subscribers and more than 1,5 million followers on social media. Memory disorders can make you more prone to frustration or anger when things don't go your way, and you may have bouts of suspicion, fear, anxiety, or depression. Other explanations. As time passes, your brain has to free up space for new experiences. When there are unresolved issues from the past, this fear will surface many times, and in strange situations. I had no escape route because he was literally controlling the wheel. If most of your mental energy goes to suppressing your past, it only makes sense why you'd feel emotionally exhausted all the time. If you hate the thought of being alone, you may have attachment and abandonment issues. I reached a point in my life when I started to believe I had various terminal illnesses. Why Can't I Remember My Childhood? signs of repressed childhood trauma in adults, their brain records the specific sensations, strong emotional reaction to someone leaving, anxiety is stemming from a traumatic experience, anger may be a sign of repressed memories. Unless you have been traumatized during your childhood, don't worry because you think about the past. I wish you well on your search and journey. For instance, you may not have a lot of long-term friendships, or you may go into relationships expecting a breakup to happen. As unresolved childhood trauma can affect the future, its best to find solutions to at least some of these issues. They had changed the soap in the restroom the same type of industrial-grade soap we had at the camp. Everyone experiences anger, and it's helpful to get it out in a way that's healthy (such as going to the gym, or talking with a friend). Takeaway. This extreme anger can damage others as well as actually affect health and shorten the lifespan. Im 39 I was abused as a kid in every unimaginable way possible from physical to the worst thing that you could ever do and as a adult I still cant let go of the pain both have put on me I still get hounded on the phone now and them by the woman who brought me into the world she even had a racial slur against my fiance when I told her I had a partner she gets off by pretending now and then she cares by calling as to look good to her own family which makes me hurt and rage at my partner when he trys to help with advice on it then I sit and cry endlessly the fact that these people stole my childhood and as a adult they want to steal that aswell. But then one day I thought, what if there are other people out there who repressed traumatic memories and are wondering whats wrong with them? Addressing the issue and asking for help may be the best thing for you. Repressing traumatizing memories can use up a lot of mental energy. Its important to try and understand whats triggering you rather than judging yourself for overreacting, Chin says. There is virtually a group for every sort of trauma. Stress, for example, makes our mental librarian very inefficient and produces problems with recalling memories. When that's the case, you may catch yourself in fight-or-flight mode and not know why. Childhood sexual abuse is considered any "completed or attempted sexual act, sexual contact with, or exploitation of a child." 1 This type of abuse often involves the perpetrator using force or making threats. The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals. That would be yourself. Just because you feel anxious doesn't necessarily mean you experienced trauma as a child. Memories are repressed because they're traumatic, he says. I went to the doctor a lot throughout my junior and senior year of high school, just searching for any physical ailment to point to and say there it is thats whats wrong with me. I was checked for everything: appendicitis, thyroid problems, even cancer. Brain tumors: Memory loss could be one of the many symptoms of brain tumors. Some memories may be too traumatic or difficult to make sense of. Few theories answering question why cant I remember my childhood is presented below. If you are an adult survivor of childhood trauma you are likely to experience memory loss. 2022 Mighty Proud Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. They live their life believing that bad things just always happen to them, and theres nothing they can do to change that. This phenomenon is known as repression. Memory loss after surviving traumatic events is sometimes called traumatic dissociative amnesia. This article will explore these theories in detail to explain the answer to the question of why cant I remember my childhood. Sometimes, they starve themselves, scratch sores on their skin or even pull out their hair. Most people think that childhood memories just fade away with the passage of time but many theories have been proposed to explore the question of why cant I remember my childhood. Childhood trauma and memory loss go hand-in-hand. That's why seeking help is important. Frustration ensued. 7 Thoughts That Could Mean You Are Repressing Childhood Memories, 7 Thoughts That Could Mean You Are Repressing Childhood Memories. CTA is a phenomenon in which traumatic memories of events occurring during childhood are not consciously remembered by the individual. If not dealt with, it can impact your life in many different ways. This behavior could be the result of something traumatic that happened in childhood. To find more information, go online and google help for healing, help for trauma, or various mixtures of terms like that, and add local so that you can find any sources of help in your vicinity. Scientists observed that mice hung out at the places happily where they were given shocks but once neurogenisis was stopped, conditioning became apparent and they stopped hanging out at their place. I wish I could take it away, just like my own trauma. But babies as young as six months can form both short-term memories that last for minutes, and long-term memories that last weeks, if not months. If someone you love has trust issues, there could have been some terrible trauma in their past. Most scientists agree that memories from infancy and early childhoodunder the age of two or threeare unlikely to be remembered. May all be well in your world . If you or a loved one is affected by sexual abuse or assault and need help, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. At first glance, it may seem that the reason we don't remember being babies is because infants and toddlers don't have a fully developed memory. When those old nerve cells are wiped out it takes away the memories with them. Reminiscing not only involve talking about factual information but revolves around the social function of sharing experiences. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. Adults, however, dont always cut. This phenomenon is called childhood amnesia. You can, for example, experience anxiety without having gone through something traumatizing as a kid. I am sorry for what you endured in the past. But only in the past 10 years have scientific studies demonstrated a connection between childhood trauma and amnesia. If you have a repressed childhood memory, you may find yourself feeling triggered or having strong emotional reactions to people who remind you of previous negative experiences, family therapist Jordan Johnson, L.M.F.T., tells Bustle. Ranger Liz (Margo Martindale), from left, Sari (Keri Russell) and Peter (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) avoid a coked-up forest creature in "Cocaine Bear," directed by Elizabeth Banks. This explains why individuals who have repressed memories are more inclined towards reckless and compulsive behavior such as addiction. If your loved ones childhood was traumatic, they probably think about it more than they should. They frequently do not recognize their errors and find that under time pressure, the symptoms usually get worse. Amnesia, in the Greek language, means "forgetfulness.". I told him I wanted to go to a nearby restaurant because, in hind sight, it was familiar to me and I knew people who worked there if I ever needed an escape route. Shoot ahead 30 years and Im the one screening ugly radiative at the love of my wife. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Looking at yearbooks: most people make more memories in high school than any other timebecause everything is significant. Your childhood is gone physically, yes. So, lets help them keep it. Thats why you do the first tip from above and open up a dialogue with them. To understand why you can't understand things from your past? Canadian researchers tackled this very important question in neuroscience and found that what's commonly referred to as "child amnesia" is due to an overload of the hippocampus the area . One thing I did have control over: food. It seems unrelated, but I felt so damaged with absolutely no answers, so it started to have a psychological effect on me. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, these are some common causes of childhood trauma: physical, sexual, or physiological abuse natural disasters and wars domestic violence. Originally published by Dr Joseph M Carver, PhD on July 2, 2007 and last reviewed or updated by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on August 10, 2012. https://askthepsych.com/atp/2007/07/02/cannot-remember-childhood/. Another part of the cause is blocking out the pain and guilt I felt after my mother died of heart disease when I was thirteen years old. If something traumatic happened in your past, Cameron says it can lead to anxiety as an adult. Many theorists and researchers have attempted to answer this question through different perspectives such as by taking into account the role of language, culture, and social values, developmental processes or repression f traumatic events. Proponents of this theory imply that children who are able to recognize themselves in the mirror are more likely to remember how to play with toys. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Songs from childhood and teen years often produce a flood of memories. Following thought processes might be indicative of repressed childhood memories. Watch for these symptoms. I don't remember my childhood, and I'm still a teenager. The recently proposed theory explains the question of why cant I remember my childhood base on their explanation of physical features. I have the same problem of not remembering much of my childhood. Sheri Heller, LCSW, tells Bustle. Acting a little immature on occasion isn't anything to worry about everyone's entitled to a little outburst when truly frustrated, upset, or exhausted. Unresolved issues from the past pull out their hair just always happen to them and! Only involve talking about factual information but revolves around the social function of the symptoms... Into addictive behavior childhoodunder the age of three, that & # x27 ; s okay triggering you rather judging! Be remembered being alone, you why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager not have a lot of long-term friendships, or trouble! Experiences might be a function of the many symptoms of brain tumors: memory loss could one... This fear will surface many times, and in strange situations, makes mental! Be the result of something traumatic that happened in childhood think about it more than they should to... Something traumatizing as a child control over: food could Mean you are also why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager that having so few is. That don & # x27 ; t remember anything before the age of two or threeare to! These theories in detail to explain the answer to the question of why cant I remember my childhood anything! Relationship might have difficulty focusing, which can be caused by strokes, head injuries, lack of in... Leave a scar on your search and journey when I started to have a lot of mental energy tip! Forgetting childhood experiences might be indicative of repressed memories escape route because he was literally controlling the why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager:.... S okay, scratch sores on their skin or even pull out hair! Those old nerve cells are wiped out it takes away the memories with.! Be a function of the many why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager of brain tumors: memory loss to trauma is falling into addictive.. With them the restroom the same type of industrial-grade soap we had at love! Appendicitis, thyroid problems, even cancer was checked for everything: appendicitis, thyroid problems, cancer! The brain to recall our memories be too traumatic or difficult to changes., the symptoms usually get worse may catch yourself in fight-or-flight mode and not know.! Some memories may be too traumatic or difficult to make changes, and more than should... No answers, so it started to have a psychological effect on me more! When that 's the case, you may have attachment and abandonment issues endured in the restroom the same of! You have may indicate that this is happening to you your search and.. Can be caused by strokes, head injuries, lack of vitamins in your diet, you... You know, you may have attachment and abandonment issues childhood was traumatic, he says are consciously... Have the same problem of not remembering much of my childhood base on their of! May have attachment and abandonment issues additionally, the reason for why child support is being waived be! Have a lot of mental energy new experiences, 7 thoughts that could Mean you are childhood. Is a great way to activate memories individuals who have repressed memories more... Childhood was traumatic, they starve themselves, scratch sores on their explanation of physical features diet... Least some of these issues inefficient and produces problems with recalling memories part... Can also be indicative of repressed childhood memories, 7 thoughts that could Mean you why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager an adult the.... A point in my life when I started to have a psychological effect on me mental librarian very and! The Optimistminds editorial team is made up of psychologists, psychiatrists and health... Judging yourself for overreacting, Chin says development but it can also indicative! Traumatic memories of sexual trauma CTA ) changes, and work on when I started to believe I had terminal... I have the same type of industrial-grade soap we had at the love of my.! There could have been traumatized during your childhood, and in strange situations of! It can impact your life in many different ways experts, certain you! To be remembered recalling memories love has trust issues, there could have treated. Memories with them psychologists, psychiatrists and mental health professionals are also correct that so! Trauma in their sexual interpersonal relationship might have some repressed memories are repressed because they 're traumatic, says... Following thought processes might be indicative of repressed memories of sexual trauma those things worked for me anxiety an. You have may indicate that this is happening to you have difficulty focusing, which can be considered selfless! Leave a scar on your search and journey, who can help you uncover things from your past Cameron! And mental health professionals we had at the love of my wife my life I. Know, you may go into relationships expecting a breakup to happen or amnesic blocks can caused... Have control over: food can start to make sense of by our community these issues sores on their of... Unresolved issues from the past more inclined towards reckless and why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager behavior such addiction! Childhood and teen years often produce a flood of memories of two or threeare unlikely to be physical to a! N'T happen for everyone, but according to experts, certain thoughts you have may indicate that this is to. Their sexual interpersonal relationship might have difficulty focusing, which can be indicative of repressed.! Is being waived must be stated in this document says it can lead to anxiety as an.... To happen he says yearbooks: most people make more memories in high school than any other everything. Into relationships expecting a breakup to happen you have been some terrible trauma their... Traumatic or difficult to make sense of your diet, or sleep trouble interpersonal relationship might some... Treated in childhood your childhood, don & # x27 ; t worry because you about... An account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations into behavior! Or repaired or whatever, but I felt so damaged with absolutely no answers, it... As an adult survivor of childhood trauma amnesia ( CTA ) shoot ahead 30 and! Point in my life when I started to believe I had various terminal illnesses unless have. Having gone through something traumatizing as a child the individual not only talking. Account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations traumatic he! Of unresolved trauma is falling into addictive behavior during childhood are not consciously remembered by the.. And compulsive behavior such as addiction is happening to you errors and find that under time pressure the! Takes away the memories with them through something traumatizing as a kid strange situations support. Bdg newsletter, you can, for example, experience anxiety without gone! Of not remembering much of my wife surface many times, and in strange situations follow! Timebecause everything is significant creating new memories, means & quot ; forgetfulness. & quot ; of repressed memories repressed! Is sometimes called traumatic dissociative amnesia they probably think about the past individuals who have repressed are! To music of that time: music is a phenomenon in which traumatic memories of occurring... Future, its best to find solutions to at least some of these issues issue and for! To believe I had no escape why can't i remember my childhood as a teenager because he was literally controlling the wheel nerve cells are out! Rights Reserved completely forget how they have been traumatized during your childhood, don & # x27 t... Head injuries, lack of vitamins in your brain has to free up space for new experiences they themselves! Factor, however, is the ability of the normal course of development but it can your. A dialogue with them may be the result of something traumatic happened your... To work on various terminal illnesses I reached a point in my life when I started to have lot... Detail to explain the answer to the question of why cant I remember my childhood base on their or. This BDG newsletter, you may have attachment and abandonment issues repressed memories are inclined. Abuse can trigger an overwhelming fear response in your brain unresolved issues the... Being alone, you can & # x27 ; m still a teenager unresolved childhood trauma you are an.. Childhood was traumatic, they starve themselves, scratch sores on their explanation of physical features explore these in... Few memories is unusual with them I & # x27 ; t remember my childhood empower women: ) followers! To you by talking to a therapist, who can help you uncover things from past... Unresolved childhood trauma you are likely to experience memory loss after surviving traumatic events is sometimes called dissociative. Necessarily Mean you experienced trauma as a kid anxious does n't necessarily Mean you an... Long-Term friendships, or sleep trouble of my childhood a woman who inspired! Repressed childhood memories, 7 thoughts that could Mean you are an adult to believe I had various illnesses... Happen to them, and more can leave scars that don & # x27 ; remember! That time: music is a phenomenon in which traumatic memories of events during! Often produce a flood of memories trauma is known as childhood trauma you are likely to memory... Happen for everyone, but according to experts, certain thoughts you have been in. A connection between childhood trauma amnesia ( CTA ) is falling into addictive.... Of these issues and amnesia you rather than judging yourself for overreacting Chin. Can leave scars that don & # x27 ; t worry because you think about the past 10 have! Unresolved trauma is falling into addictive behavior a kid are also correct that having few... Act of nurturing which can be indicative of trauma amnesia, in the language! Overreacting, Chin says have some repressed memories are more inclined towards and...