Does Your Brain Try to Forget Trauma? The Truth Behind Memory and Pain

The brain’s tricky relationship with traumatic memory

Let’s just say it upfront: trauma messes with your brain. Like, big time. But the real question is — does your brain actually try to forget it?

Well... yes and no. Some memories get buried so deep you barely remember them. Others come back at random, sometimes years later, like a sucker punch. So what’s going on up there?

Turns out, your brain doesn’t have one single “memory system” — and trauma plays by its own rules.

Memory suppression vs. repression: not quite the same thing

What is memory suppression?

Suppression is when you consciously avoid thinking about something. Like when you get dumped and try not to look at your ex’s Instagram. Your prefrontal cortex (the bossy, decision-making part) tells the brain: nope, not today. It’s effortful — you have to keep pushing that thought away.

Repression, though, is more mysterious

This is the controversial one. Repression refers to the unconscious blocking of traumatic memories. You don’t even know it’s happening. The idea is that the brain “hides” painful memories to protect you.

Freud loved this theory, but modern neuroscience? It’s a bit more skeptical. There's some evidence, sure, but it's not bulletproof. Still, many trauma survivors do report lost memories that later resurface — sometimes triggered by smell, sound, or even a random word. Wild stuff.

What actually happens in the brain during trauma?

Amygdala, hippocampus, and cortisol: the trauma triangle

Here’s the nerdy bit, but stick with me — it’s important.

• Amygdala: This little almond-shaped thing screams danger! during trauma. It locks in emotional intensity.

• Hippocampus: Normally, this organizes memories in time and space. But trauma? It kinda short-circuits here. Details get scrambled or fragmented.

• Cortisol: That stress hormone? It floods your system and can either enhance memory (too vivid!) or impair it (super foggy).

So depending on what’s happening chemically, you might remember too much, remember the wrong parts, or remember nothing at all.

Which is both fascinating and honestly a little terrifying.

Why your brain “forgets” — and how it protects you

Dissociation: the mind's emergency escape button

Ever felt like you weren’t really “there” during something awful? That’s dissociation — a defense mechanism where your consciousness sort of checks out. It’s your brain going: This is too much. I’m out.

And when you're not fully present? Memories don’t form the same way. It’s like trying to save a file without hitting “save.” Later, you remember flashes. Maybe sounds. Or maybe... just a blank.

It’s not your fault. It’s survival mode.

Long-term avoidance and neural pruning

Over time, if you keep avoiding a memory, your brain may actually weaken the neural pathways connected to it. It’s called neural pruning — basically, “use it or lose it.”

But here’s the twist: this doesn’t mean it’s gone. It just means it might be buried — and something small could bring it roaring back.

Can trauma really stay hidden for years?

Yes — but it’s rare and complex. Some people genuinely block out traumatic events, especially if they happened in early childhood when memory systems weren’t fully developed.

And yeah, some memories might never come back. Others return in dreams, flashbacks, or therapy sessions.

But the brain isn’t just hiding stuff to be cruel. It’s trying to protect you — even if it doesn’t always do a great job.

Final thoughts: your brain doesn’t forget trauma — it just handles it differently

So, does your brain try to forget trauma? In a way, yes. But not like erasing a hard drive. It’s more like shoving things in the back of a messy closet: out of sight, but not gone.

Sometimes that’s helpful. Other times it bubbles back up when you least expect it. Either way, it’s part of how your mind tries to keep you safe. Even when it fumbles a bit.

And honestly? That’s kind of beautiful — and deeply human.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.