my mind automatically blocks out painful memories?

Question

i recently discovered that there are years and years from my childhood that i dont remember at all. i don't remember almost the whole year of 2005 because lots of bad things happened then. some things from as recent as late last year, i have NO recollection of. i know they happened, but of actual incidents, i dont remember them at all.

is there a name for this? what do i do?

just to add, it isn't a good thing. because i still get upset and depressed just that i don't know why. i act out without knowing the cause of it. not good!

Answer 1

Maybe it's selective amnesia. We either absolutely forget what happened in the past or gradually let its importance fade away.
Do you think it's time to let go? Be grateful that you can't remember?

Answer 2

Yes, I think it is also not really good forgetting the memories as well and try to move on..because there may be something we have not solved yet. I think we get angry,frustrated or depressed sometimes perhaps of the unhappy incidents that happened. If we did not resolve the events that happened correctly, we will be affected by it..I guess maybe you've forgotten some parts of the events which happened because they were painful and so you perhaps tried not to think about them..I guess for me, the best way to get over them is to actually try to face up to the bad incidents and find a solution or a way of dealing with them...or to prevent the mistake from happening again. Perhaps, learn from them and try to not let them happen again. In the meantime, cherish all the people around you now as they are in the present now.

Answer 3

Is there a name for this?

I have similar symptoms to you. My disorders are depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and some extent of dissociative identity disorder (DID). For myself, these symptoms extend from traumatic experiences earlier in my life. Post(means "after") Traumatic (horrible/violent/sudden tragedy)
Dissociative (to move away from, to dis (not) associate.) Memory loss can be a part of any of these three disorders.
Memory loss over a tragic, violent experience is not necessarily a bad thing. Your mind is blocking for you what can be very upsetting and haunting memories, and all the fears and unpleasant reactions you may have associated with the memory.

What can I do?

This depends entirely on what you would like to do about your situation. Is this loss of memory causing problems for you?
If not, then you can choose to not address it.
Do you have emotional, functional, or other mental difficulties you can't quite explain or relational reactions interfering with your life? In those cases, you may choose to work with a Counselor, Psychologist, or Psychiatrist to help solve some of your historical puzzle - to face it - to heal from it - and regain the strength to face your future with new coping skills.
This really is a choice that is up to you.

Answer 4

I think the person who said selective amnesia is right. I think you have learned to train your mind to automatically block out anything that might hurt you. Selective amnesia is probably the best "diagnosis" for what you've gotten. I just call it a gift...

To answer the question "What do I do?" I say you should be happy in knowing you don't have to remember. IF you want to remember go to a shrink. They have these exercises for you to do so that you can remember.

Answer 5

I've never heard of this before. If it really concerns you, you might want to go to your doctor. But look at the bright side of this, many people spend their lives thinking of a tragedy that happened in their life!

Hope I helped!

Answer 6

That Is Just Awsome, What Wouldn't I Do To Be Like You!

Answer 7

lucky