Blotting out the past

Theoretically, thought dellusion, yes... If the experience were bad enough to put you into a state of chronic self-denial, I imagine that your brain would eventually discard the memory.

However, I have found that the best way to filter out bad memories is to not focus on them. There is an excersize that I do when they pop into my mind. I just pretend that these memories are tiny little bubbles, and I mentally blow them far away.

If you continue to focus on an unpleasant memory, the stronger it will become, and the harder it will be to put behind you.


Not that it is any of my business, but may I ask what, in particular, caused you to have such bad memories? I would suggest that you confront the persons responsible in order to help you deal with, and overcome, the memory. But I don't know what it is you're trying to forget.

Hi Orphelia,

As you suggest amnesia happens quite naturally, and it is possible to induce a degree of amnesia.

The other thing that can be done that is probably more beneficial is to change the affect that the memory has - For example I had a car crash some years ago; soon afterwards in remembering the crash I would get the bad feelings that went with it. Now I can remember the crash and think about in quite a calm, dispassionate way, it doesn't affect me in the way it used to, yet I know it happened and was unpleasant back then.

Whilst this can happen naturally, over time, there is a technique called either Fast Phobia/Trauma cure or VK dissociation. (VK stands for Visual Kinesthetic), which is used very effectively for dealing with traumatic experiences and phobias.

If you are looking for someone who can assist you with this we can probably point you in the right direction.