Person-specific Amnesia

[Nunef]

I can't sleep and a question that's been in the back of my mind worked its way into my consciousness and I realized this would be a good place to ask it. I've been asked to be discreet about this, hence the extra layer of anonymity.

My daughter has vague memories of sexual abuse, without being able to put a face on it. Putting together a bunch of factors, it seems likely it was my father, which breaks my heart, but I believe her. He passed away several years ago, so accusing him or protecting other children is not an issue, but I want to know the truth.

Anyway, my question is about a very specific kind of amnesia. I know it is common for children who are abused to forget large chunks of their childhood, but are any of you familiar with this kind? She has shared with me that from a time frame of about nine years that we lived next door and saw him almost daily, she remembers almost nothing about my father. This is someone who normally has a memory like an elephant.

 

[Edob]

I hope I'm allowed to leave this link here, might be a useful starting place. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/servi...h/disease-conditions/hic-dissociative-amnesia

It sounds like dissociative amnesia to me, although I'm no expert. Might be a good place to start finding answers. I'm sorry your father did that to your daughter, that's hard information to accept.

 

[Vaheg]

I get place specific amnesia or at least a place specific compartmentalization of my memory, so person specific is entirely plausable.

Anarchy

 

[Apoce]

I know my grandfather sexually molested me when I was a toddler and until I was 6 years of age. I cannot recall what he looks like either, though I recall what his wife, my beloved grandmother looks like. I recall what my other grandparents look like too. I do recall his sick voice, my molester's voice. Thankfully my mother found out about his abuse and molestations, and so she put a stop to it when I was 6. He was forbidden to come around our house nor have anything to do with my sister and I at all. My beloved grandmother would get us Christmas presents each year and sign them in his name to us, but we knew it was her handwriting. Also the gifts were loving gifts, not the sick kind of things that he would have bought!

So yes, your daughter's amnesia is very likely and real.

 

[Abug]

Thanks everyone, all that is helpful. I've never doubted her word, just haven't come across her symptoms anywhere.