Is it possible to suppress memories from your past?

I had a rough life living with my dad and I finally got out of my personal hell when I was 12 and went to live with my mom. As I got older my dad attempted a relationship with me. For almost 4-5 years after I moved out I had nothing to do with him. I was physically and emotionally abused by him my whole life so I was not happy to be around him at all. I wonder if I had a more tramatic expierence that I cannot remember because like a year later we would go out for breakfast or whatever (which always ended up in disaster) and he would touch me (not perverted like) like hugging me or kissing me and I would feel like throwing up and I was completely disgusted by him being to close to me. I feel like this is more then just the bad relationship between us. Could I have been violated sexually by him and have suppressed the memory? I can't figure out why I feel that level of disgust. At this point he is cut permanantly out of my life. It is not worth it to me to have a negative relationship.

Is it possible to suppress memories from your past?
Yes it is. I do it all the time especially when it was a very painful experience. I think that's probably a way for us to get out of the pain.


I think you feel the feeling of disgust because, well he's your father and he treated you like a nobody, like you're trash, like he's not your flesh and blood and this is not what any child should go through at the hands of the fathers because we expect them to be our protectors and in this case he let you down. I understand why you cut yourself off him and honestly it's the best move and choice you can ever make.





I doubt you have even learnt anything constructive from him or because of him you have become a better person. Honey to avoid any disappointments and hurt cause by your father I'd say continue keeping the distance between the two of you.





Good luck and I hope life gets better as the years go by.
Reply:It's definitely possible to suppress memories from your past. The problem is, the smallest thing can bring it all back.
Reply:Its is quite possible to suppress a memory u just don't want to remember ( u force yourself to forget ) until something triggers it, u will then act irrationally without really understanding y. If u want to find out what it was, go to a psychiatrist, some has methods of hypnosis to take u back to ur childhood. (good luck)
Reply:I can't remember
Reply:Yes. It is possible. I'm not a shrink, so I can't give an informed response from that perspective, but I can from personal experience.





I believe we suppress certain memories as a form of self protection until we reach a point in our lives where we are better able to deal with them.





Again, only from personal experience, my advice to you is that you should take these feelings to a shrink. He/she can best decide if you are truly ready to bring forth the memories. Hypnosis therapy can work wonders at bringing things from the past to the present ... but it needs to be done under the guidance of someone who can then help you deal with the pain.





It's a tough road, but in the end, well worth it. Once you've gone through all of the different emotions that are a part of the process, you'll feel both a sense of relief and an inner calm. You'll also come out of it a stronger person.





Best wishes to you on your journey.
Reply:Suppressed memories are total horseshit. You will probably have people on here tell you it's possible, and that you may have been sexually assaulted. You will believe it, and you'll start making up memories and you'll think they are real. Vietnam veterans might not remember all the details, but they remember going to the war. Supressed memories aren't real, but the possibility of FALSE memories is the real problem.





Hypnosis is total crap and that's where the fake memories come from. Your supposedly in a very succeptable state of suggestion. If you have it in your mind that your repressing memories, through suggestion you'll make them up. Your going to get bad advice on this one..
Reply:doubt it, i've never been successful in doing so





you can try as hard as you like to forget it but memories never slip away completely. it's keeping them from resurfacing often that's important.





stay away from w/e reminds you of this bad memories and keep your mind occupied, then hopefully you will remember a little less although you won't forget completely
Reply:You should talk to a counselor
Reply:You should meet a counsellor ASAP.


It is not easy to supress past.


It will take lot of time to rebuild life.


Good luck.