Is it possible to?

Question

be sexually abused as a child and to block out the memories, but still suffer side effects like depression, anxiety and intimacy issues?

Serious replies only.

My sister was sexually abused by my grandad and since I can remember I have had all of the above symptons.

I don't recall abusebut since my grandfather is a sick pedophile, and I'm suffering abuse symptoms, I feel it may have happened =[

I only found out 7 months ago she was abused as a child, but have been suffering since I was young....

Answer 1

yes it is possible...even tough you want to try to block out that memory...you will never be able too its too strong to forget it...its painful for you!

Answer 2

The symptoms you describe,
you may be right on target.

The name of the hidden memories escapes me at the moment. But it can happen for any person and for any trauma.

I know because it happened to me and it happened to my daughter, too, each for our own traumas of years ago.

Please be very careful about accusing people when you are less than absolutely certain that person did it to you. Relationships can be forever altered.

Work with a professional Counselor and a Psychiatrist.
They can help you away from the anxiety, intimacy issues and depression - with time and work on your part.

When the memory appears, the problem is that the sensations and emotional reactions can appear also.

Answer 3

Some people say it's possible. But these days the whole 'repressed memory' idea is being doubted more.

I would say I don't think so. If you remember your sister being abused, you ought to remember if you were yourself.

I'm not trying to dismiss or minimize your anxiety and depression. But there are many things that cause those things, and sometimes they just appear by themselves. If you knew your sister was abused you might even have problems from that!

Answer 4

Yes. lots of people do that because its so hurtful when its really deep inside of them but they cant remember, it weird because they have other ways of acting it out. Like for an example me--my mother and father physically abused me, now I'm a control freak and don't trust really anyone because I'm afraid they might get to close and hurt me so most of the time when im in a relationship...i seem to be a bit bossy.
i hate it that im this way.
i also suffer from anxiety...because my father left when i was five years old... i have separation issues...so now my life it kinda all messed up.
my boyfriend has alot of pint up emotions from his past...when he was younger and lived with his parents...they didn't abuse him physically like my parents did me. they abused him mentally. they actually told him to never cry or anything like that and now he cries but no tears come out.
so what your going through is very common...also never feel that your the only one.

Answer 5

repressing memories is common in abuse and many cases of trauma. People's minds are wonderfully adaptive and uses repression to protect the individual from experiences that may destroy them. If you feel you were a child victim I would only dare try to open that door only while in therapy so you can process your feelings and experiences safely.

Answer 6

oh most definately it is possible for you to have repressed those memories, when as a child you can't handle situations like that your mind makes you forget that it ever happened...