The mind’s ability to shunt aside things people don’t want to think about degrades rapidly at a point in one’s thirties or forties.
That is why victims who were minors when something happened ( be it abuse or the trauma from some disaster such as a fatal wreck or a tornado where they lost family) suddenly fall apart as they approach middle age. They coped with whatever happened by simply being able to not think about for years, and if they die young they never have to. Trying to force them to think about earlier it will generally make them run away or make them angry.
Read up a little on post traumatic stress.
If people should “read up” on this, please provide a link. I’ve never heard of a clinical study about “this stuff catches up with you in your 40s.”