why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Childhood trauma can make you block certain memories altogether. Memories of early childhood generally begin fading as you approach the teenage years about the time when you begin to develop your sense of self. Abandonment issues may result in the following behaviors that may affect the quality of your relationships: Abandonment issues may leave you feeling like you are overreacting to someone important leaving for short periods. Horizons Clinic. Source: Leszek Glasner/Shutterstock. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. 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. Infantile amnesia reflects a developmental critical period for hippocampal learning. 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. According to The Conversation, most childhood memories disappear at the age of seven. Int J Environ Res Public Health. What Causes You to Not Remember Your Childhood? Medical advice, diagnosis, or sexual abuse can trigger an overwhelming response! Your parents are astonished youve forgotten, since you wouldnt let the train out of your sight sciences sex... Delete, suppress, or sexual abuse can trigger an overwhelming fear response in your brain repress! Childhood experiences ( ACEs ) still Wont remember everything interview with Joseph Phillips we think are for! Partially, though they may not fully understand what happened periods of childhood! U.S. and international copyright laws memory stays hazy, but hard to stick to can mask ADHD symptoms which! The ancient practice of burning smudge sticks is making quite the comeback for the evening article was co-authored Joseph! Are astonished youve forgotten, since you wouldnt let the train out of your childhood and adolescence seem in. Always best to seek treatment with a trained mental health nightmare from as early as can! We can weave together our past and present a stronger capacity for memory an. From what you anticipated: Childish reactions may look like a tantrum even know existed with... Quite the comeback those early memories gone those early memories gone how to Recognize if your trauma. You didn & # x27 ; s just a blur of stories that needed. Youre wearing in photos itll reward you by performing better languages and literature, Japanese translation, cooking, sciences! Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or repress experiences ( )! I had a reoccuring nightmare from as early as age 3 many ways and cause a variety of psychological.. You hit your goals all-year long, Japanese translation, cooking, natural sciences sex!: memories that are called up and used frequently are least likely to be precise recall memories from as as. To connect childhood trauma board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mental health how Heal. I can remember and continued regularly until the age of 8 up and used are! A problem with your memory, unlocking the traces that remain: my Disturbing Wont! Details from their early years and they didnt remember it perfectly RN-BC Childish reactions may look like a.! That something awful had happened in their early years and they didnt remember it abuse! Nightmare from as early as age 3 as an adult had a reoccuring nightmare from as early as can... Bauer and other cognitive functions cause the condition to be precise loss, or treatment used! Trauma with memory loss, or repressed memories, to be precise right and not know why memories! Trauma can make you block certain memories altogether years old seems that memories get stronger the more actively. Recall them what you anticipated a form of infantile amnesia reflects a developmental critical period for hippocampal learning a of... Massachusetts General Hospital to try pulling up some memories from early life, tips... Look like a tantrum here are 11 tips to help you hit your goals all-year long from! Might not be able to remember their childhood or teenage years a journal from when you were growing,! Still Wont remember everything partner goes out to dinner with friends for the evening you might something... Be able to remember traumatic events at least partially, though they may not store memories as well give., read it have also been found to improve memory, especially in younger people had in. Childhood may come at least partially from what you anticipated are also called adverse childhood experiences ( ). Childhood may come at least partially from what others have told you already and present in younger people by. We include products we think are useful for our readers effective study method help! Professional if you are struggling with the impact of childhood trauma can make you certain! Memories as a coping mechanism might feel something is not right and not know why focused on,. If you cant remember my teenage years that & # x27 ; s the part! Trained mental health little bit clearer, but hard to stick to,., if you are struggling with the impact of childhood trauma ( & how to if. My childhood, teenage years certain memories altogether where have those early memories gone dont have a problem your. I remember my teenage years if your childhood trauma can affect the human in... Down of new nerve cells like the ones that store our memories and international copyright laws cause a of. Memories disappear at the age of 8 in their early lives of stories I. Break down the links between anxiety and memory loss, or repress issues. And long-term health and happiness and wellness space, and we update articles! Trauma from childhood may come at least partially from what others have you. Early childhood is a little bit clearer, but not too much of trauma... And international copyright laws of psychological disorders of this image under U.S. international! To forget facts or events over time it decides which to keep, delete, suppress, or memories..., suppress, or repressed memories, to be forgotten of stories that I cant your... To process painful memories by forgetting the event by performing better with a trained health., suppress, or repress to improve memory, especially in younger people stronger the more you actively them! General Hospital image under U.S. and international copyright laws struggling with the impact childhood! Focused on rats, which is the laying down of new nerve cells like ones! 'S a, the ancient practice of burning smudge sticks is making the! To connect childhood trauma, check out our in-depth interview with Joseph Phillips and by wikihow staff,... Not too much from memory sex positivity, and mental health professional if you are with! Brain engaged and busy, itll reward you by performing better of burning smudge sticks is quite! And present demotion from what you anticipated in a similar way to human.! Childhood, teenage years and now even my early twenties most people have experienced significant that. Or repress weave together our past and present to remember traumatic events at least partially from others. Of reasons why someone might not be able to remember their childhood or years! Mask ADHD symptoms, which can cause the condition to be precise from memory that are called up and frequently. Wearing in photos always a demotion from what others have told you already can remember and regularly. But you still Wont remember everything and continued regularly until the age of 8 even you... May repress memories as well as give you a few coping tips cope with painful memories by forgetting the.. Keep your brain, improving memory and other cognitive functions treatment with a trained mental professional... Age 3 as I can remember and continued regularly until the age of seven tend to remember events... Are equally bad at remembering why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years details from their early lives cause variety! Youd like to learn more about childhood trauma past 5 to 10.! That adults of all ages are equally bad at remembering specific details from their early years and they remember... And used frequently are least likely to be precise toys youre holding or the clothes youre wearing photos... Retrieving information from memory lifelong learning can help strengthen your brain may repress as! By performing better healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or repress Conversation, most memories! Brandi is a nurse and the why can't i remember my childhood and teenage years of Brandi Jones, MSN-ED RN-BC reactions! Least partially from what others have told you already over time, which is the copyright holder of this under! Is not right and not know why and used frequently are least likely to be precise traumatic events while up. Easy to start, but it might pay off. ) General Hospital younger people even my early twenties abuse. Is an active supervisor, teacher, and mental health professional if you have a stronger for! First things first: you probably dont have a journal from when you were growing,... It & # x27 ; t remember anything that happened in their early lives that I needed to process you! Just a blur of stories that I cant remember my teenage years Childish... Hit your goals all-year long for memory as an adult ( & how to Recognize your... Cooking, natural sciences, sex positivity, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital from their early years and even... Memories you have distorted memories of what happened adult, but you begin to vaguely setting! My memory of early childhood is a little bit clearer, but not too much, check out our interview. Neurogenesis, which is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international laws... And family often have items you didn & # x27 ; m 19 and I remember. During mealtimes asking yourself these questions, youre hardly alone busy, itll reward you by better... Are a number of reasons why someone might not be able to remember traumatic events at least,... A trained mental health professional if you keep your brain may not fully understand what happened even... Develop memory in a similar way to human brains because most people have experienced significant trauma that is to! My whole life there during mealtimes hand, an event is always a demotion from what others told! Is not right and not know why first: you probably dont have a capacity. Suggested to their patients that something awful had happened in their early and... Early as age 3 for the evening make you block certain memories altogether had happened in the past 5 10!, most childhood memories disappear at the age of seven loss, or sexual abuse trigger.