Remembering the Past: 4 Ways to Recall Childhood Trauma

You might be reading the title of this piece and wondering why in the world you would want to remember childhood trauma. After all, if something bad happened to you as a child and you’ve repressed those memories, that’s a good thing, right? Not necessarily. Memories don’t just disappear. Even if you’ve repressed them, they’re still in the confines of your mind. Your behaviors, beliefs, and even your body could show signs of those memories even if you don’t realize it. 

It’s important to recall childhood trauma, no matter how difficult it might seem. When you recall it and bring it to light, you’ll be able to start processing and working through it. That’s when you can find freedom from those memories rather than trying to keep them locked away. Let’s look at a few ways you can recall childhood trauma and why it’s important.

1. Revisit the Past

Chances are, if you’ve repressed childhood trauma, you’ve done everything in your power to avoid things that might trigger your memories. Unfortunately, that’s often part of the problem. One way to recall childhood trauma is to revisit the past. Go to the place where the trauma occurred. Revisiting a past location can stir up memories and feelings you’ve tried to ignore or push down for years. Is it easy? No. Visiting these past places can cause anxiety, fear, shame, and guilt. However, it can also help you to connect the present to the past and remember what happened there, so you can begin to heal.

2. Keep a Journal

Free writing is often one of the best ways to bring up past memories and recall childhood trauma. Sit down with a journal and begin writing your thoughts and feelings. Start by writing about what’s going on in your life now, and don’t pressure yourself to remember things right away. As bits and pieces of your memories return, jot them down. Eventually, you’ll be able to piece things together as you look back through your journal, and you’ll create a timeline of what happened. 

3. Use Sensory Triggers

In addition to going back to a specific location, certain sensory things might trigger your traumatic memories. That includes things like certain smells, sounds, rooms, or even what you might have been wearing. Obviously, you’re not going to have the same outfits on hand that you did as a child, but looking at old photos and remembering the significance of certain outfits can take you back to that time, making it easier to remember what happened.

4. Talk to a Mental Health Professional

Trying to recall childhood trauma can be overwhelming at times. No part of it is easy. Even if you’re able to recall your traumatic memories, they can become so vivid that it might feel like they happened yesterday. After all, there was a reason you repressed them for so long. With that in mind, one of the best things you can do is seek help from a mental health professional.

Different types of therapies can help with recalling childhood trauma and, even more, can help you cope with the effects once you do recall those memories. Overcoming trauma often requires you to go back to the root of where it all started. Not only can a therapist help you discover that route, but they can teach you the skills necessary to process your emotions in healthy ways.

Recalling memories from childhood is an important step in the healing process if you’ve repressed traumatic memories. You don’t have to go through that experience alone. Feel free to contact us to set up an appointment as soon as possible for trauma therapy.