PTSD and memory: why can’t I remember my trauma?

Not remembering all the details about your trauma is common and it can be a symptom of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Traumas can be difficult to remember for multiple reasons. Dr. Harry McCleary, licensed clinical psychologist and Navy Veteran, give 4 reasons way traumatic memories can be hard to remember.

Reason #1: Avoidance/ trying not to remember
Reason #2: Normal forgetting
Reason #3: Traumatic amnesia
Reason #4: You never remembered

Dr. Harry McCleary is a licensed clinical psychologist and Navy Veteran. His channel is dedicated to educating Veterans, service members and their families about mental health.



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[kathyramos]

I’m here because my therapist asked me about one of my traumas … I went blank and I just didn’t remember anything 🤷‍♀️ I knew it happened that’s all.

[socialglitch]

My life was built around and within extensive, ongoing trauma. I have blocked out so much of it. I feel like it’s there, somewhere under the surface but I had to block it out to survive.

[Maniilogue]

I’m just so sick of being so goddamn forgetful all my life, man…

[ChrisTrabantProject]

Our brain can be our friend to block these things out. Sometimes it takes one word to bring back memories back. To all those experience this I give you my best wishes, I’m there with you

[BonnieDragonKat]

I have what I call voids in my memory. I am a survivor of childhood abuse. Many of my missing memories are tied to my childhood.

I my biological mother abandoned me at a young age and my adopted mother was abusive.

This makes sense.

[ONCICOLA]

This is why therapy didn’t help me. I couldn’t remember anything. I couldn’t even speak.

[flowerpower]

I have no Xmas, no birthdays, this kind of inability to remember ANY good things my entire life. I'm in my 50s and have yes, ptsd. It sucks not to be "normal". But I do NOT like to think of the things I have memory of. Ah, well...God is good. And I'm learning to live daily. I'm still reclusive but no longer self medicating or self abusing. This video is right on. Exactly what my mind does and has done. God bless any of you our there suffering from this, you can get to a place of acceptance, and loving who you are for what you have survived! Made you a beautiful soul. Veteran of war, or veteran of violence here at home. 🤗😊🥰😇❤️🙏✊️

[Angelica-uobw]

First video I've found that makes sense. I found my mom unexpectedly passed away in her home. It was complete shock. I can remember seeing her. I have no memory at all of her funeral that I planned. I wish the memory of finding her was erased instead. I'm not diagnosed with anything it really bothers me and scares me that I have no memory of her funeral. It's really sad, I can barely ever look at pictures of my mom bc the memory of finding her passed away pops up and it's too much, not anything I want to remember. I just want to remember my mom. This is insane to me. I've asked relatives about my mom's funeral and they just say it was really nice, you did a great job. It's so weird to just not remember.

[DankTank]

I still can't remember wtf happened bro and your into is hella on point I don't want to remember 😢

[GameArchon]

When I was a child I used to have absolutely positively horrible nightmares. An extremely creepy looking witch with an inhumanly wide mouth, eyes that stared at me like a hawk, and extremely inhumanly long fingers, would relentlessly tickle and molest me. This happened in multiple dreams, to the point where I was terrified to go to sleep. But I don’t remember shit in real life. And for the people who say “You can’t feel touch sensations in your dreams.” Bull fucking shit. I did. It was not fun.

On one hand, I don’t know how my innocent childhood brain could’ve possibly conjured that up. But on the other hand, I don’t remember shit no matter how hard I try. I wonder if something happened to me when I was a baby. Because I have no idea.

Fortunately as I grew up, the nightmares have ceased completely.

[FroggyMist]

It was mostly emotional sometimes I can remember thing’s perfectly and sometimes not. Sometimes I even doubt it’s trauma then my head spirals into self harm

[sallychan]

This video is so accurate. Why so few thumps up?

[boochin]

What is the point to remember, why re-live and bring to life things that don't matter any longer. Go forward not backward is my motto.

[dailyinspiration]

I really appreciate this video and specifically your last point- if you never remember it’s still valid to get help. Thank you, that really helped me today.

[jenniferscott]

As an LCSW I admire the way you explain it so well. I will definitely suggest your channel as a mental health care professional currently working in the field. YouTube can be such an amazing resource. Thank you for all the work you do!!

[Avgskilledgamer]

My ears perked up when you said vet. Thanks brother

[swadlol]

I just started developing ptsd symptoms almost 20 years after my trama. If I have any negative interaction, I apparently get really agitated, and agressive. And cannot remember anything. Taking videos on your phone and writing notes in a journal kinda what helps me, but not really. You can sort of see what you’re like in the fight or flight moment, but impossible to connect yourself to that human being

[robertallen]

In my situation, when my mother passed away on leap day in 1988, (I was 26 years of age) I can remember making funeral arrangements butwhen it came to the funeral itself, i remember seeing my mother, then every thing after that went blank, nothing until days afterwards. I asked my wife what happened? She said I just sat quietly. Now 36 yrs later and still no recollection of anything other then what I've written.

[Live_WildMT]

Your voice is very calming and relaxing, I feel like I call listen without getting fidgety or stressed. Thank you!

[dilciaseecharan]

My children who were small at the time were the ones to tell me about my trauma bc i couldnt remember anything