Age regression and memory loss

Rose113

Not aimed at anyone here

I wish people would stop turning age regression into a fantasy it’s not a fantasy or fun to experience, it ruins your life, it ruins my life.

I hate my age regression, it makes me feel so stupid and helpless but I can’t control it, it’s how my body reacts. I get overwhelmed or scared and I can’t calm myself so my body goes into flight and I regress to another age, an age that I wish I didn’t regress to.

I was speaking to someone about age regression and told them the age regressions I experience and if some of yous don’t know then I have an age regression that effects my speech and one that effects my memory

TW// memory loss, abuse and neglect

I have what I call sever age regression where I get so upset and overwhelmed and stressed out that I age regress to a younger age ( I will not share that age cos it’s private and not really something I’m comfy sharing to the world)
And so that effects my speech and sometimes I will also loose my memory and flashback to that age and certain things that happened at that age which does more harm than good, when I age regress this way I forget my age, my name and sometimes talk complete nonsense too that makes no sense to most people

I’ve struggle with age regressing for years now and it still does so much damage and sometimes I feel the warning signs but sometimes I don’t which is more so the case lately. My speech only age regression is usually my main one that happens and then the speech and memory regression is like I guess a last resort for my body and brain but it’s horrible

Age regression is horrible and makes me feel so alone especially since when it does happen I’m left with no support cos there’s no helplines or anyone that specializes in age regression so it leaves crying but it’s nothing new I’ve coped with it alone for years endlessly and in secret to people irl

sinead276

Hey @Rose113 -

Just wanted to say i'm so proud of you for not only sharing this part of your story with us, but also giving a bit of insight into what it's like to experience age regressions. i think it's a really brave thing to share and i think you being able to speak about it on here gives it the awareness that i think a lot of people may not have (myself included as i'd heard of it but didn't know a great deal about it). but i can imagine it's super challenging especially if it affects your speech or memory.

and i'm sorry to hear you often feel alone in these experiences - likely due to the lack of available support specifically on it and the under-education of such challenges within services etc.
whilst us on here may not be super educated on the depths of age regressions - we are all here if you need a space to rant or vent or support you in any way we can.

sending you lots of hugs and hope you're doing okay
keep going you've got this!!!
Sinead

Sian321

Hey @Rose113 , thank you so much for your post here telling us some more about your experience with age regression and what that's like for you

Reading over your message I got the sense that regressing can make you feel out of control sometimes? There's something very helpless about the experience for you, and that sounds so overwhelming and perhaps even humiliating at times, to go through these involuntary changes in your memory and speech and to feel very alone.

I know you mentioned that you know age regression is part of your body and brain's last resort to try to keep you safe (100%, and having that self-compassion and self-understanding feels really powerful), but I also really hear that its frustrating too, because it's extreamly vulnerable to feel yourself regressing unpredictably. It sounds like the regressions have started to feel more sudden too? I'm so grateful you're trusting us with this, @Rose113 . We don't take that for granted at all, and we're here for you.

When you do age regress, is there anything you've found that tends to help you? I wonder what you feel younger-you is wanting or needing in those moments when you regress?

I know you said that oftentimes you have to go through this in secret, which sounds so hard. Is there anyone in your life who does know that regression is something you experience? If so, what was that conversation like when you told them?

I've found a few places that might be offer you some support with this if you wanted to check them out:

https://napac.org.uk/flashbacks/
https://napac.org.uk/survivor-toolkit/
https://assisttraumacare.org.uk/

Sending hugs

Rose113

Hi @Sian321

My age regression is really bad last Tuesday I had to leave circle early because of my age regression, it’s ruining everything and I really don’t know what to do about it I hate it so much, it used to be something that helped but now it’s really bad coping mechanism

Yeah I can’t control it and sometimes I feel the signs but other times it mess s with my head and then I don’t even know I’m regressing at times

When you do age regress, is there anything you've found that tends to help you? I wonder what you feel younger-you is wanting or needing in those moments when you regress?

I don’t know why my head does it and especially with my memory loss age regressing I hate that it happens, I can’t share too much what happens on here cos of guidelines and stuff but it’s so horrid

I have a few people who know it happens and I have a friend A who helps me if she’s around which she knows what to do through just trial and error but she’s not always around when it happens.

Thank you I’ll try them but I’m not sure they’ll be able to help, no one can help I am just alone in it 💔😭

Laura_tigger82

We are here with you @Rose113. You have done so well, and been so brave, in recognising that what used to help you is now having negative consequences for you.

It is super positive to hear you have a friend who is able to help! What, in particular, does your friend do which helps? I am wondering if those things might also help when your friend is not available.

You may feel alone but we promise you don't have to face this on your own! Would you like to share more with us about how you are currently feeling?

Rose113

@Laura_tigger82 its compliated, id kinda have to show you

i feel terrible

Laura_tigger82

It's okay to feel terrible @Rose113 and for it to feel complicated. Your feelings are valid. We are listening if you would like to talk about any of this or how you are currently feeling. Is there anything which might help this evening?

Rose113

@Laura_tigger82 i just want my age regression to go forever

Lucy_21

I’m sorry this keeps happening hon and I wish I knew what to do so I could be more help but I’m so new to this. It’s a scary and confusing thing to go though and I’m sorry you don’t have more support or solution to this because I know you hate it and I get why. Do you have an idea of why it’s worsened lately ❤️❤️