Exposure therapyĮxposure therapy is a type of behavioral therapy widely used in the treatment of PTSD, which can be particularly helpful for flashbacks and nightmares. You basically weaken the neural connection that allows you to call up that particular memory. After doing this for several weeks or months, you can (theoretically) train your brain not to remember. They believe that you can use your brain’s higher functions, like reasoning and rationality, to consciously interrupt the process of memory recall.īasically, this means that you practice intentionally shutting down your painful memory as soon as it starts. Memory suppressionįor years, researchers have been investigating a theory of memory suppression called the think/no-think paradigm. You won’t be erasing your memory, but when you do remember, it will be less painful. Others prefer that you write out a narrative of your story and then read it during therapy.įorcing your brain to repeatedly reconstruct your painful memory will allow you to rewrite your memory in a way that reduces the emotional trauma. Some therapists advise you to talk about the experience in detail once or twice per week. After a trauma, wait a few weeks for your emotions to die down and then actively recall your memory in a safe space. Every time you recall a memory, your brain rewires that memory. Take advantage of the process of memory reconsolidation. Researchers believe you can also reassociate a trigger with a positive or safe experience, thereby breaking the link between the trigger and the negative memory. The more often you suppress this association, the easier it will become. When you consciously recognize a trigger, you can practice suppressing the negative association. Identifying your most common triggers can help you take control of them. For example, someone with a combat-related trauma might be triggered by loud noises, the smell of smoke, closed doors, particular songs, items on the side of the road, and so on. Some memories have only a few triggers, like particular smells or images, whereas others have so many that they are hard to avoid. Your bad memory isn’t constantly in your head something in your present environment reminds you of your bad experience and triggers the recall process. Memories are cue-dependent, which means they require a trigger. Keep reading to learn what we know so far about intentionally forgetting things. For some people though, it could be a lifesaver. Recent research into “forgetting pills” is frequently challenged on the grounds of medical ethics. The topic of erasing or suppressing memories is controversial. Prior to that, memory research revolved around retaining and improving memory. Research into intentional forgetting has only been going on for about a decade. But there’s still a lot they don’t understand, including why some people develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and others do not. Scientists are just beginning to understand the complex process of memory. For people who’ve experienced a serious trauma, such as combat experience, domestic violence, or childhood abuse, these memories can be more than unwelcome - they can be debilitating. Throughout our lives we accumulate memories we’d rather forget. Identifying your triggers, talking to a therapist, memory suppression, exposure therapy, and medication are just some possible strategies for dealing with bad memories. Although painful or traumatic memories can be difficult to forget, there are ways to manage them.
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