Selective Memory

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Does anyone else have trouble remembering past stressful situations? I can remember events and details infinitely for just about anything exept for how I reacted to a past situation that caused me stress. This may seem like a good thing but it is bad when you are going through a stressful time and can't remember ever having gone through something like that before. I rely entirely on my parents to tell me how I acted or reacted to certain situations.

Like my first job for example, apparently I freaked out about having to apply for the job and was convinced I wouldn't like it and was scared to death, personally I remember filling out the form and interviewing and getting the job and ultimatly loving it but I have very little recolection of freaking out before hand. Recently I had to ask my mom how I was doing at this point in the semester last year so I could get an idea of where I'm at now and if things have improved because I know my parents say that I was pretty miserable a year ago but I don't remember it.

Anyway, just wondered if anyone else had that problem...

I seem to forget being happy.

-Bigfoot IS blurry, that's the problem. It's not the photographer’s
fault. He's a large, out-of-focus monster, and that's extra scary to me.

HA! I love your bigfoot theory, hilarious!

Yeah I have selective memory problems, which I think I wouldn't even know about if my daughter and friends, and my journal didn't tell the real story...I wonder why this is? If it was something stressful, or traumatic, chances are, I won't remember it unless my daughter fills me in on the details, because she was there, and could refresh my memory about certain events...and it's difficult for me to remember stuff like, where was I and what was I doing on such and such a date...? I can remember dates that don't pertain to me, however...hmmmmmm, weird.
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I'm like a duck and every day is a new world!! !!

I've recently started journaling when stuff bothers me because without my parents around all the time I have no way of remembering how I reacted to a situation or more importantly how I got over it.

Can't take credit for the Bigfoot quote though, I found that somewhere else but really liked it, glad someone else appreciated it!

Very much so.

My childhood was traumatic, and I've blocked most out of out (seriously, cannot remember anything beside maybe 10 events). I guess that makes diagnosing harder?

It seems stress cause the memories to go bye bye. That and karma. Suffering the make ups. I cant remember being that happy either.
Me...I do a review either in a note book... I try to write everything down if I can. It really helps... or mentally when I am in the shower I review.
I generally just try to focus on the now and the tomorrow and I kept everything simple and go slow. I get stuck in the past on bad things too much so if I stay simple and go slow I wont have any more bad memories to get over.

Does make sense?

I cant remember stuff I can't see like names, and audio things

My first marriage was abusive, and since then I can't argue properly.
I forget what the argument is about and what has just been said, right in the middle of it all.

***BUMP***

Hey, wow, I thought I was the only one with this. In general, I can't remember much from before I was 16. I think it's because I unconsciously suppressed those memories - they were, after all, painful. But whenever someone asks me about my childhood, it's difficult to answer. It doesn't help that my parents didn't scrapbook or photograph me at all when I was a child.

You seem to forget specific events though... I forget entire years.

It was the same with me. I don't think there are any photos of me as a child.

I have trouble with what I call "event" memory, probably from blocking out my abusive (from school, not parents) childhood. I think it became habit, and I tend to lose events (not all, but alot) within a year or so. But I can recall facts mentioned to me in passing 20 years ago that have no personal relevance.

That's how it is with me. Certain events I lose completely while others I can remember perfectly while no one else can...

I have trouble remembering almost everything; however, I admit stressful situations are the last thing I would probably remember. I have to keep a journal of notes so I don't repeat bad situations. Does anyone else have to do that?

An odd thing I've noticed is that what I remember the best is usually things that have no stress connection to me at all...like the names of actors and actresses going far back in time!