Is it normal that i seem to have forgotten most of my childhood

65% Normal
8 Comments

I've had a pretty traumatic childhood, my mother physically, emotionally and psychologically abused me and my siblings. We had to work to earn our keep hardly given a chance to play like other kids, never got toys and stuff like that. We were called names and smacked around a lot with things like broom sticks(until they broke on us), toilet brushed (yes on the side with the filthy bristles), high heels on the head (till you actually bleed), she even once tried drowning my sister and kicked her out of the house, at the age of 13, completely naked!...and that's just to name a few!!!

Anyway ive got serious issues with my mother, for obvious reasons,and I get really really stressed every time she is around. i now suffer from anxiety and have serious issues with keeping healthy relationships with the opposite sex.

But just to get to the crux of the matter i would like to know is it normal to forget your childhood coz i seem to have forgotten over 70% of mine!!! and that's scary!
has anyone else had a similar experience?

Voting Results
65% Normal
Based on 23 votes (15 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • WhiteStallion
    9 years ago

    Maybe you're just trying to block out those memories as a way to deal with the trauma, its very possible. However, you still seem to remember quite a bit... It also depends on how old you are to start forgetting. Personally, I remember my childhood vividly, good and bad, but then again I'm not that old.

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    • motherless
      9 years ago

      lol, I'm a 25 year old female.
      Well actually I don't remember much considering there were very few happy moments so what I mentioned is actually from the 30% or so that I do remember.

      I started noticing this every time I was with a childhood friend or my siblings for that matter and they would start reminiscing...I just cant seem to remember anything. at first I thought nothing of it but I soon realised I have actually forgotten a lot!!

      Also I had to move back home recently for a while and ive since started losing my vocabulary.
      I know this all sounds crazy, but its all true...feel like im losing my mind actually.

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      • WhiteStallion
        9 years ago

        I feel for you. You're young and you have all these issues bogging you down. I don't believe psychologists work for me, but that's something you could try. They say the more you talk about it, try and understand it, the better the situation gets. Could it be possible as well that you may be having symptoms of some disorder to do with the brain? I think you should get it checked out with a professional. I also think you should consider how you feel in those situations which could be preventing you from behaving as you usually do, considering the trauma you faced.

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        • motherless
          9 years ago

          Thank you for taking your time to read and respond.
          Much appreciated. :-)

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      • Ellenna
        9 years ago

        You're not losing your mind and it doesn't sound at all crazy to me. Please get out of there as soon as you can, it's a totally unhealthy environment. Probably the reason for losing your vocabulary is that part of you is reverting to your childhood self - as I already said, not healthy for you to be in that environment any longer.

        Your brain has very sensibly blocked out a lot of bad memories, but not all of them. Have you ever had therapy? It'd be a good thing to try, this all seems too big and painful to deal with on your own.

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  • Avant-Garde
    9 years ago

    This is a normal reaction for someone who has gone through trauma. It happens to adults and children. Like you, I grew up in an abusive situation. I was severely traumatised and "damaged". I couldn't remember so much of my childhood. I managed to uncover some things with a supplement I was taking and wow. It was amazing that I could finally remember some things but, horrible and sad at the same time too. I wish those memories were never uncovered. I wish all of my memories would have stayed hidden. It would have saved me from flashbacks and so much suffering. Your brain shuts off these memories in order to help itself cope and to protect it. Your brain has done you favour.

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  • Questioneer
    9 years ago

    Yes, it's normal. But here's something, WHY do you still spend time around this woman?
    Stop spending time with this monster who gave birth to you.
    As a child you don't have the option, but at this point, you don't have to be around her anymore.
    And if you have children, none of you should.

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  • RoseIsabella
    9 years ago

    It's normal for a person like yourself, who most likely has post traumatic stress disorder, to block out childhood in an attempt to shield yourself from the horrific trauma you've suffered.

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