I got into therapy over 2 years ago when I was facing a whole lot of stressful life situations at once. I always thought it was kind of odd that I had very few memories before the age of 9 or 10, but I always thought there was nothing traumatic or abusive in my childhood to explain this. (This is despite the fact that my ex-husband frequently, though gently, suggested that my upbringing was considerably more messed up than I thought it was.)

During the course of therapy, I've recovered some childhood memories of trauma and abuse, and I've also talked to my sister, who is 10 years older, about things she recalled-- things I would have witnessed, but do not remember. I think it was more of a surprise to me than to anyone when I remembered these traumatic things.

Just my experience. I have one other friend who has very few childhood memories, but he was mercilessly bullied in school when he was young, so I think his blocks probably relate to that sort of trauma.

(Mind you, during my first therapy session, in the course of routine questioning, I exhibited plenty of signs of trauma- past SH issues & 15+ years of daily SUI thoughts, etc. Somehow I managed to normalize these things in my head...)