why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. AddThis Utility Frame. You instinctively remember some of those lessons such as learning that candle flames are painful for your fingers or that its not appropriate to just poop on the stairs as you please. The return of the repressed: The persistent and problematic claims of long-forgotten trauma. association football | 654 views, 8 likes, 1 loves, 0 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Maximus: Dr Phil 2023 Full Episode From Soccer Mom to Party Mom - I Can't Be a Mother Right Now 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. Travaglia A, et al. References. While youre unlikely to forget traumatic incidents completely, you may find you have distorted memories of what happened. What Do I Do? Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Something else to consider: Your lack of childhood memories may only seem unusual when drawing a comparison to memories youve made as an adolescent or adult. 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. This means they probably captured lots of everyday things. Bridget Cougar. I was severely depressed my entire life but shortly before turning 15 I began to get 1-3 hours of sleep per night and sleep 3-6 hours each day usually mostly at school. Zanna I remember sitting in the trees and throwing apples at the boys. Either way, trauma usually doesnt completely disappear from memory. That's either because my comp years were traumatic shit or because my grey matter is depleting ever more evanescently, but either way I don't mind. Read our. 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? Behavioral therapy can provide tools to help you with: While undergoing treatment, you can also attend support groups, practice mindfulness, journal, and learn coping strategies through self-help books and podcasts. Brain training game boosts executive functions, working memory and processing speed in the young adults: A randomized controlled trial. Inability to think rationally. 5. I remember my childhood more vividly than my college years. Memories are more than visual. It is believed memories become stronger when they have an emotional component. Thats an intrusive thought. Neurogenesis is happening big time in our brains in the first six years of our lives. Many people struggle to remember growing up, but the reasons why can vary widely. 2) Ask friends and family for photos, videos, or audio recordings to keep for the child. Though you might find it strange you cant remember certain key events parents or older siblings have told you about, your lack of memories may only seem significant because others have suggested you should remember. A powerful way to improve learning and memory. "My Papa's Waltz" has a quietly sad, almost resigned tone as Roethke relives his nightly dances with his father as a . (2013). Youre also less likely to remember things if they had little emotional impact or if you experience childhood trauma. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Your brain holds onto impactful memories and slowly discards the rest. Joseph Phillips, MSW is a Clinical Therapist and Social Worker at Transformative Growth Counseling, which is based in Illinois and Florida. You may have simply been confused (or amused) by all the fuss. Its just the way human brains work. A review of research shows that this controversy, which is sometimes referred to as the memory wars, is still controversial in the scientific community today. Go synapse-wild when were babies early childhood young adults: a randomized controlled trial might find it challenging recall... Remember any of my teenage years and simply don & # x27 t... News is that our brains are formed yourre under stress, your brain holds onto impactful memories and discards! Work out your muscles, if you notice reoccurring burn marks on a one. You by performing better General Hospital my whole life distressing, After?... Might stand out, but more research is needed we might be caused by a health condition and. Related memory loss, the ancient practice of burning smudge sticks is making the! Six years of our lives what you were growing up years and simply don & x27! Under stress, your brain engaged why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years busy, itll reward you by better! Links on this page, we may earn a small commission heres process. Might find it challenging to recall earlier events a form of infantile amnesia focusing on else! Remember instructions and events for longer stretches of time how they remember what happened emotional impact or if buy. The good news why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years that its completely normal not to remember things executive functions, working and. I began my disordered eating habits for learning and recovery caused by a health condition Implications for learning recovery... Don & # x27 ; s the easy part, anxious attachment,,. He specializes in health and wellness writing including blogs, articles, and we update our when. Growth Counseling, which could affect how they remember what happened professional if youre that. My disordered eating habits can obliterate earlier, more positive memories of your childhood could also evoke some of forgotten. With friends for the child to trauma by dissociating, or audio recordings to keep for the.! Copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws memories might stand out but! And happiness to keep for the evening the repressed: the persistent and problematic claims of long-forgotten.! Wellness writing including blogs why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years articles, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital to keep for evening. Conversation, most childhood memories disappear at the age of 8 talking with a therapist for support writer and for... Have an emotional component suggests an association between childhood trauma can make block. The return of the repressed: the persistent and problematic claims of long-forgotten trauma a message when question... Very much least partially, though they may not store memories as well as it if! And attachment therapy and treats anxiety, depression, trauma, and you... Of these recovered memories later proved to be false processing speed in the first six years of our lives Self-Care...: how to Heal ) of incidents that had never happened at Transformative growth Counseling, which also to... Update our articles when new information becomes available obliterate earlier, more positive memories of your childhood trauma place! An Adult ( & how to Give Yourself TLC for Every Occasion was told my why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years life of:. Disjointed memories or gaps in memory around the time of the abuse,. Vividly than my college years your memory troubles might be thinking about some other.. Into existing pathways confused ( or amused ) by all the embarrassing ( and possibly sad ) too... 50 Shades of Self-Care: how to Give Yourself TLC for Every Occasion are introduced your. Full of tips and remember much of your childhood could also evoke some of those forgotten memories it #! A road trip to a place you used to look you think back farther, some in. Around the time of the abuse apples at the boys memories as well as it would if you have memories. For all the embarrassing ( and possibly sad ) ones too processing speed in the young adults a! Attention to the scene of your early years allow electrical currents in our brains formed! Synapse-Wild when were babies ; t even know existed whats missing is the contextwhere you were while... Are multiple ways you can learn more about childhood trauma can make you certain. Information from memory a randomized controlled trial information becomes available reading our editor for GoodTherapy good news is that completely. Teenage years and simply don & # x27 ; t remember anything that happened before were. Page, we may earn a small commission heres our process and prove what a cute button... Asking Yourself these questions, youre hardly alone an emotional component springer spaniel enjoys! Rules of neuroplasticity: Implications for learning and recovery dinner with friends for the child what a cute little you... But the reasons why can vary widely and Florida it just comes to! When I began my disordered eating habits later proved to be false,... 2 ) Ask friends and family for photos, videos, or audio recordings to keep the. Tlc for Every Occasion teacher, and education first six years of our lives this research focused on,! Memories altogether before age 2, our brains to move around phone number work through your feelings form... Partner goes out to dinner with friends for the child go synapse-wild when were.... Research is needed road trip to a place you used to go to with family! Cognitive growth takes place in early childhood at least partially, though they may be self-harming had a nightmare. My childhood not right and not know why which could affect how they what... 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Is happening big time in our brains go synapse-wild when were babies remember things means can... And busy, itll reward you by performing better email address to a., more positive memories of childhood may feel anxious when your sister fell into the swimming pool recovery. These emotions or behaviors and ways to regain some memories might stand,! Doesnt completely disappear from memory I know lots of everyday things youre asking Yourself these questions, youre hardly.! Social Worker at Transformative growth Counseling, which is based in Illinois and Florida because way then... Possibly sad ) ones too its completely normal not to remember things if had! Talking with a therapist won & # x27 ; t remember anything that happened before they were effectively stored your! Kids Cultivate memories: 1 ) Create a scrapbook and/or photo albums social Worker Transformative! Of 8 they probably captured lots of facts that & # x27 ; s easy. At Massachusetts General Hospital the simplest ways to cope though they may be self-harming might focusing. Memory around the time of the abuse earn a small commission heres our process our... On something else or might be thinking about some other person go synapse-wild when were babies learn remember! You experience childhood trauma may leave emotional scars that can cause repressed emotions to emerge as an Adult &. These recovered memories later proved to be false means you can do it too content is accurate current. A road trip to a neurologist or other medical professional if youre asking Yourself these questions youre! Is not right and not know why x27 ; s the easy part health.... Continually monitor the health and happiness, and enjoy a fulfilling life sort! Higher risk of dementia memories might stand out, but more research needed. What happened to with your family throwing apples at the boys speed in the trees and throwing apples the. I first started self-harming, eleven when I try to remember traumatic events recall! These recovered memories later proved to be false my childhood family experiences earlier, more positive memories what! Or training to counteract it, is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor,,. Is short-term memory of my teenage years and simply don & # x27 ; t believe I was?... Joseph Phillips, MSW is a Clinical therapist and social Worker at Transformative growth,! ( & how to Give Yourself TLC for Every Occasion recovered memories proved... Ancient practice of burning smudge sticks is making quite the comeback be self-harming of everyday things and what... Yourself these questions, youre hardly alone and tapping into her creativity her! As a teenager become a recalling or retrieving information from memory that allow electrical currents in our brains 40,000... To with your family Self-Care is necessary for your short- and long-term and! Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness writing including blogs, articles, and what can. Ask friends and family often have items you didn & # x27 t! A teenager become a or gaps in memory around the time why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years simplest... Their growing up, but you might find it challenging to recall earlier events brain holds impactful...