[DodgersMom]

is it possible to have experienced childhood/teen sexual abuse but have no memory of it?

i feel like i'd say, no i have never, because i don't remember but i was reading a few things on it and a lot of the symptoms ppl talk about were very much me and as an adult i struggle with issues touching and being touch, the idea of sex terrifies me and i can't be in relationships

i am just wondering if i am nuts or if i am forgetting something major somehow? seems weird i would not remember

one key thing is i remember being about 10 or so and constantly playing barbies so i could do sexual things with them, not me and them but using them together in a sexual way. i always was touching myself etc, i remember those things... i am freaking out. help!

[topherlee75]

I kind of go thru the same thing. In third grade, I knew waaaaay too much about sex. There were weird things I knew about what others had no clue what I was talking about. Sensations I knew about that I shouldn't have... and I have no recollection of my 2nd grade year at all.

So.

I have come to the conclusion it's possible and deal with it that way. Personally, I don't want to know. I'd rather know it's possible and just deal with it "as if it did" and it's been a little better.

[Luminar12010]

these kind of problems can be there for countless reasons, or for no reason that can ever be identified. treating them is probably the same regardless, see a therapist who can help you deal with them, but i dont honestly think you could stretch to attaching it to abuse that you cant remember, that would do you more harm than good

[rmvgcarreiro]

I think you can. I was raped by my brother for more than 5years and it started well, when I was 5. I do remember it, but I don't remember many stuff from my childhood and teen years, it might be reverse from your case, but the events and our mind block some stuff out

[systemfailure]

I think unless you remember being abused, your better to count it out, unless you do get memories, the problem with MI is a lot of the symptoms are the same as many other diagnoses.

[systemfailure]

as for you dealing with it as if it did happen, your not going to find the real root of your problems, if you decide that it did happen, furthermore, who are you going to decide who abused you ? because surely that would be the next concern if you think you may have been abused, you need to talk to a specialist because the fact you feel better deciding to treat it as if you were abused with no recollection of abuse, is an issue in entire itself.

[DodgersMom]

i wouldn't accuse anyone specifically. i dont even need to/want to know for sure if anything happened

I'm just trying to see if its possible... i know i have massive issues with touch and I'm trying to figure ut where it all comes from

[GoneGirl711]

I have several years of my childhood in which I can recall very little. I think age 8 - 10 or 11.

I do have recollection of being molested but as an adult I have had strange memory flashes? When I have again seen some relatives or family friends I had not seen in years and they have been very disturbing quick flashes and I have struggled with if they are real memories or if they are merely a trigger of that memory or were involved. It so disturbing ,

[RubyRae]

I personally believe when you've been sexually abused in childhood you just "know" you have been,you may not remember the acts,you may not remember who or how but inside,deep inside your soul you have this 'knowing'.

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by systemfailure

I think unless you remember being abused, your better to count it out, unless you do get memories, the problem with MI is a lot of the symptoms are the same as many other diagnoses.

Good post,especially saying a lot of symptoms are the same as many other diagnoses.I agree with that and I think it's kind of dangerous to read a checklist about sexual abuse symptoms and assume one was abused because some symptoms match.

[Amyjay]

I had no memories of abuse prior to a certain age but when I did remember something it hit me like a ton of bricks and I "remembered" or realized i had always known it. i didn't know how I could have ever forgotten it. I knew it was completely real.
Years later I read that even people who forget childhood SA usually remember it happened in some way even if they forget the emotional aspects or details of it.

[Amyjay]

I had no memories of abuse prior to a certain age but when I did remember something it hit me like a ton of bricks and I "remembered" or realized i had always known it. i didn't know how I could have ever forgotten it. I knew it was completely real.
Years later I read that even people who forget childhood SA usually remember it happened in some way even if they forget the emotional aspects or details of it.

Originally Posted by RubyRae

I personally believe when you've been sexually abused in childhood you just "know" you have been,you may not remember the acts,you may not remember who or how but inside,deep inside your soul you have this 'knowing'.

I totally agree with you, A person does know deep down inside there soul

[Purple,Violet,Blue]

Just wanted to share my own experience.

Everyone is right to be cautious, in my opinion, as there can be many causes for these feelings. It's best to let some time pass. If something happened, it will come back to you... so hold off on accusing people if you can... that's a big deal for accuser and accused...

But, the reason I commented is because Recovered Memory Syndrome is real, and I can say it for sure because it happened to me.

I was about 19, and already 'didn't believe in' RCM (it had been in the news a lot). Then I remembered my own.

I was lucky... it wasn't a family member or, well, these things are difficult to categorise and compare, of course, but it wasn't 'that bad'.

(I'm laughing at myself while writing this... it's a measure of how abysmal my childhood was, that a sexual assault barely registered)

Yeah, anyway, I was assaulted by a boy in my class. We were both about six or seven.

I went right through school with this boy, but I swear, I had completely forgotten it until that moment in my late teens.

So, as I say, time will tell and once you do know (as someone else has said) you really know.

[dlantern]

Probably so . The important thing to remember is you are not alone and it is not your fault...