In this thread I'm mostly asking about short-term memory. I apologize if this is a stupid question and I'm sure there's other threads about memory issues but I'm curious if anyone knows how common this issue is? My boyfriend of 3 years, who had a very traumatic childhood is now left with severe short-term memory loss. But he has pretty average long-term memory. He has no problem recalling things that have happened as far back as age 4. He actually remembers a lot of his traumatic experiences, too. But his short-term is so messed up and it has been that way for him from an early age. He can't remember small things that happened as little as 30 to 60 seconds ago. He's aware of this issue and is pretty self-conscious about it. I don't want to sound dramatic but sometimes it can negatively affect our relationship, it's hard to have conversations sometimes without things flying over his head and me having to repeat myself. And he constantly feels bad because he can't really help it and he doesn't want to come off like he's not listening. I've read some articles online and it seems like it's more common for someone's LONG-term memory to be affected. But that isn't the case with my boyfriend. So, if anyone here can answer any of these, even just one, my questions are:

1. Is it common for short-term memory to be affected by trauma? Or is it more common for long-term memory to be affected?

2. Is it ignorant or stupid of me to assume that these memory loss issues are his psyche's response to the few years of emotional trauma he experienced as a child?

(Side note: he does experience a good amount of other issues that I *think* manifested as a result of his childhood experiences; i.e. nightmares, trust issues, limited range of feelings/emotions, etc. The memory thing isn't his only issue. Also, he's never been to therapy or talked to any kind of doctor about this so neither of us are clear on what issues are caused by what. I'm pretty sure he thinks he was just born this way and that he can't change these things).

3. Do these memory issues ever go away without therapy? Whether they're short term or long term?

4. I'm not a therapist but is there anything *I* can do to help him with these memory issues?

Again, I apologize if anything I've said sounded ignorant or stupid or dumb, I'm not very informed about these things.