How can I be afraid of dogs if I don't remember the incident?

[Anonymous]

My parents told me that when I was 2 years old, a nasty dog wanted to charge towards me and the owner got a hold of it, on time before it had a chance to bite me.

It was a close call that day and even though nothing physically happened to me (no harm), I was forever alterred and afraid of dogs ever since. I started crying, shaking and didn't talk anymore. It got to the point I didn't speak for many months and parents took me to speech therapy.

I have no recollection of that event but I have an irrational fear of bigger dogs. I feel like panicking every time I see them. How can I be afraid of dogs if I don't even remember the event?

Updates

+1 y

I have no recollection of anything when I was 2 years old. I remember nothing and yet I'm still paralized with fear when I see bigger dogs.

[Tyrael]

You don't have to be able to remember it for it to have an effect on you. You were likely too young to be able to remember it, but the damage was done and the subsequent therapy sessions and you likely being told about the event many times has effectively left you scarred by it. That's my best guess.

[AngryCarl]

Your subconscious remembers. You need to spend more time with dogs to overcome your fear.

[Anonymous]

Selective amnesia. The event was too traumatic for your mind so it blocked the memory; but not the trigger.

[Iron_Man]

Just be around dogs get over it