why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years

(2013). "How Can I Remember Childhood Trauma and Abuse?" Who doesnt want to bask in those sunny, carefree days again, when you could smoosh your face into a cake and people thought it was cute rather than a problem? There are some other reasons you might not have a full mental photo album of your childhood. First things first: You probably dont have a problem with your memory, even if you cant remember your third birthday. Verbatim memories are accurate mental recordings of an event or experience. Do your best to stand up for what you believe in, even if your opinion is unpopular. 8 According to the trace decay theory of forgetting, the events that happen between the formation of a memory and the recall of the memory have no impact on recall. Research suggests that 7-year-olds can recall memories from as early as age 3. Originally published by Dr Joseph M Carver, PhD on December 17, 2008 and last reviewed or updated by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on December 17, 2008. https://askthepsych.com/atp/2008/12/17/i-cant-remember-my-life/. The answer is yesunder certain circumstances. Why Can't I Remember My Teenage Years - 5ws.wiki Voss P, et al. I too have a period of my life that is very fuzzy and I remember very little. Since these memories carry less weight, they fade more easily as you age. Amnesia, infantile. The same reason you can't remember your childhood years. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Addressing the issue and asking for help may be the best thing for you. Even if they're not fully consciously aware, they may act out in certain ways because of experiences from their past. . This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. I don't remember my childhood, and barely remember my teen years. Sadly, a hole-filled memory of childhood can happen due to trauma or abuse, making recollections patchy and distressing and forcing out memories of happier times. Sigmund Freud was one of the first to suggest a link between childhood trauma and a lack of memories, and researchers have been exploring the possibility ever since. Talk to a therapist, psychiatrist, or other mental health professional if youre struggling with your mental health. The return of the repressed: The persistent and problematic claims of long-forgotten trauma. Maybe its the possibility of being blamed or betrayed. Is it even possible to reclaim childhood memories? We might be focusing on something else or might be thinking about some other person. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, these are some common causes of childhood trauma: Research indicates that childhood trauma and abuse can absolutely affect your memory. According to psychotherapist Priscilla Chin, LCSW, memories of emotional abuse or racial microaggressions can be blocked out as well.