Fact from Fantasy

[Nevermore]

Sometimes when I get depressed I have flashbacks as a young child. They are short, silent, blurry, and more like moving pictures. Sort of like the affect a strobe light has. I can't see his face, but I can feel him on me. His hands, and honestly it creeps me out. I'm a virgin, and never had sex. The flashbacks I have aren't about sex, just being sexually touched. I know a few years back I was sexually abused. I don't like talking about it. But this sitaution is entirely different. A totally different person. It makes me scared because I can't remember parts of my past. When I was in preschool, my friend who was a girl and I were curious, which I heard was normal and took off our clothes and examined each other. I remember her father coming down the stairs, but nothing else. I don't remember him going back up the steps, or anything. I can tell that the face I could make out in my flashback wasn't someone I knew or was really close to. However could this be something my mind is making up? Or could it have actually happened? How can I tell between fact and fantasy in this case. :(

[BreatheHopeIntoMe]

I know it's really late to reply to this, but a general way to tell the difference is that when it's not a memory and fictional, constructed by you're mind, you generally will see it in third person. Not in first. So instead of seeing the whole picture through you're eyes, you might focus on just the face and blow it up in you're mind like in the movies, so that's all you see.

[Syvelocin]

^ Well, generally I guess I agree. But for some reason, all my memories are in third person. I don't mean just memories from a while ago, I just got back from clothes shopping and the memories I have aren't anything about first person. It's weird, but everything is like that. I just finished a cup of ramen, I have a third person memory of me eating that ramen. I don't know, maybe I'm just weird. :P

So I don't really have any fool-proof ideas for you hun. I know what you mean though, I've gotten just random pictures in my head that aren't triggered by anything, and I know they're not memories or anything but I don't know what they are and why I know I haven't seen it before or something. Sorry :(

[Shenron]

I know it's really late to reply to this, but a general way to tell the difference is that when it's not a memory and fictional, constructed by you're mind, you generally will see it in third person. Not in first. So instead of seeing the whole picture through you're eyes, you might focus on just the face and blow it up in you're mind like in the movies, so that's all you see.

This is generally correct. We see so much third person these days that when our brains create fake memories, it often times place them in the third person. Also, try to resist those fake memories if you can because it is much easier than most people think to have a fake memory seem real to the point whee you think it is real. One more thing, usually, fake memories are not as vivid as real ones. You might not be able to tell where you are, or maaybe all you see is one ting when there should be other things in the scene.

I'm sorry if I didn't make sense, I was trying to recall everything from my psychology classes about memory lol. I hope I helped, and of you have any questions feel free to pm me.

[Nevermore]

I am the same way Rith. I don't think you're weird.

Does this mean you think I made the incident I had was true or false?

Thank you all for your help. I know this can be a confusing topic, and I really appreciate you guys helping me out with this.

[Myrnodin]

Everyone's memories are different in a way, My own usually interwine with my dreams (wich are highly vivid) to the point wich i even confuse them at times. How ever Sammy, i think this "memory" you have is not entirely true, yet not complete fiction.

I think that what you are seeing are repressed memories, and im quite sure there is something triggering them. Perhaps you met someone new, found someone old, found some old clothes, got in a relationship, etc. Therefore what you remember is "True" but its not a different scene, but the same you already know about.

I say this mainly for two reasons:

"... It makes me scared because I can't remember parts of my past" We never forget, anything, it stays somewhere, and sometimes event from the present dig those memories out. You used the word "scared" before that. Did you get scared recently? Is something new going on?

"They are short, silent, blurry, and more like moving pictures. Sort of like the affect a strobe light has. I can't see his face, but I can feel him on me."

Normally our eyes and our brain focus on faces when they get too close to us. Remembering a "forgotten" event like this, without getting faces, or at least hints, is really really unlikely.

Am i making sense? Or did i shoot too far? I really hope this helps a bit. Try to look into your life; there may be something triggering those memories, sometimes the most akward things do the trick. (I remember childhood events though flavors). Feel free to poke me if you wanna talk.

Regards, - Josh

[Nevermore]

Thank you for your response Josh. I really appreciate you trying to help me. :)
I'm always scared and anxious. It's either with my dad or people in general. I am in a new relationship.
Very true.
No, no you are making sense. This does help. That's cool that you remember childhood memories through flavors. :D
What should I do to remember? And are you saying it did happen or parts are true, parts are made up?
Thank you again for your help. :)

[Myrnodin]

It is something that happened. (you mentioned that on first post) Which, i understand, you already know but dont remember completely. I believe that what you are seeing is part of those memories you cant remember completely. So its not something "different" from what you already know, its just details of the same thing. (Let me know if you want me to explain again, honestly i love explaining things, but i can be a bit confusive at times :D )

To help this, id recommend talking to your new couple, probably thats the "new" thing that is triggering these memories. Try to talk with him/her as much as you need/want. I cant say if you will remember completely or stop having these "visions", but probably you will quit having them. If you really want to remember, a psycologist can help you.

Im happy to help :)

- Josh.

[Nevermore]

Oh! I think I understand you now. :D Rawrz :( I was sort of hoping this didn't happen. :/
Thank you, I shall talk to him about it, and my psychologist.

[Myrnodin]

You just talked to someone who studyng psycology. Finding VT made me realize, i made the right choice about my studies. :)