why can't i remember my childhood and teenage yearswhy can't i remember my childhood and teenage years

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Santos E, et al. Or possibly we were not mentally . So does this mean a therapist won't believe I was abused? wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Its not at all unusual to remember very little from the first several years of life. Ive been asked for years if I have been and always say no. If you do not feel comfortable speaking with someone you know, you can also call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org to talk with someone anonymously who can help you process what you are going through. You Are Eating Wrong If you have a hard time remembering things, your diet might be the one to blame. There are some other reasons you might not have a full mental photo album of your childhood. 5 Major Characteristics of Dreams. Healthline has provided our top picks of surf products to get you into. Infantile amnesia reflects a developmental critical period for hippocampal learning. "The repression of negative childhood memories contributes to subsequent re-victimization as one is subconsciously acting out the dynamics they have repressed with the subconscious hope to master the trauma," Heller says. If you have a journal from when you were growing up, read it. I'm 19 and I hardly remember the last five years at all. Dont focus so much on one-off occasions. The good news is that its completely normal not to remember much of your early years. Perhaps youve heard the theory that people often cope with painful memories by forgetting the event. Generally, it happens because we were not paying attention closely. 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. If you're struggling with any sort of repressed memory, it can leave you feeling confused, guarded, or cause you to act out whenever the memories surface. It can also be when someone gaslights your feelings by telling you to, Self-care podcasts can help teach you vital skills and tools to help you lead a happier, healthier life. 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. I can remember a handful of events and names but that doesnt seem normal to me. The good news is that it's completely normal not to remember much of your early years. Thats why, while early memories tend to have the least lasting potential, your strongest memories probably come from your years as a teenager and early adult. Its important to try and understand whats triggering you rather than judging yourself for overreacting, Chin says. If your friend was a huge fan of a specific band, for instance, you can listen to some of that bands music to see what memories come up. Memories are more than visual. Rather, your brain can restructure itself when it sees the need to adapt to various changes you experience throughout life. Otgaar H, et al. Alberini C, et al. And studies on our little rodent cousins have shown that, like us, they can remember learning experiences from their childhood (like falling over hurts and other greatest hits) without remembering other details. By wanting to protect yourself you may have blocked those memories from your life. It could also be due to organic damage, such as Alzheimer's disease or amnesia. Then suddenly, there he was. Nouchi R, et al. Why you can't remember being a baby. On the other hand, if a lot of things in your childhood neighborhood have changed, you might notice these differences even if you cant remember exactly what things used to look like. Trauma can certainly affect your memory (more on this in a minute). 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. Childhood trauma can cause adverse effects both immediately and in the future. I think I might know why, but if I say why it would ruin someone's life and I don't want to do that. "For example, a typical thought might be a negative reaction to people yelling and that may stem from the repressed childhood memory of a parent who was an angry yeller." He specializes in relationship and attachment therapy and treats anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance use. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Research suggests that 7-year-olds can recall memories from as early as age 3. It could be a sign of trauma if you're having difficulty remembering important parts of your childhood. 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.