Is it possible to force yourself to forget something

During the reconstruction process your memories become malleable, which means it is possible to adjust or manipulate them. Certain techniques and medications can exploit the reconsolidation process, effectively removing, for example, the feelings of fear associated with a particular memory. It is generally understood that people remember emotional memories more vividly than boring memories. This has to do with a small region deep inside your brain called the amygdala.

The amygdala plays an important role in emotional response. The ability to sense and remember fear played an essential role in the evolution of the human race. Recent research has discovered that good and bad memories are actually rooted in different parts of the amygdala, in separate groups of neurons. This proves that your mind physically reconstructs good and bad memories differently.

Memories of pain and trauma are difficult to forget, but there are ways to manage them. Although research is progressing quickly, there are no drugs available yet that can erase particular memories. With some hard work, however, you can find a way to prevent bad memories from continuously popping into your head.

You can also work to remove the emotional element of those memories, making them much easier to tolerate. Post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD is a condition that occurs after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. The event may involve a real or…. Here are psychologists' take on it. An introvert is often thought of as a quiet, reserved, and thoughtful individual. Experts say the COVID pandemic added to the stresses of job insecurity and food shortages already felt by People of Color and young adults.

You've heard the term countless times, but what does having a type A personality actually mean? We'll go over common traits, how they compare to type…. Psychologists and psychiatrists have a lot in common, but they also have some key differences. Nothing is. If you have misophonia, certain sounds might trigger intense irritation, disgust, and physical discomfort. Get the details on symptoms, treatments…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Mental Health.

Medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph. How to forget How memory works Good vs. How to forget painful memories. How can a student start a new life? Where should I move if I want to start over? How do I move on and forget him? How can I forget him fast? How can I make her miss me badly?

How do you make him cry for you? How do you make someone miss you badly? Do guys Realise what they have lost? How do I make him see my worth? Previous Article What is multimodal text examples? Method 2. Try thinking about unpleasant details while doing pleasant things. One way to overcome the bad feelings associated with a memory is to teach yourself to associate the unpleasant memory with good things. Do something that makes you happy while thinking about a bad memory. For example, you could reflect on the embarrassment you felt when you broke up with your partner while listening to soothing music.

Or, take a comfortable bath with scented candles while thinking about a time that you lost your job. If positive association does not seem help, then you can try also listening to loud white noise to drown out painful memories. Consider surrounding yourself with radios all turned to static, or other white noise generators while meditating on the painful memories.

Make some new memories. Another great way that you can get rid of old memories is to get out and form some new ones. Even if you're not doing things related to the memory you'd like to forget, forming new memories will push the things you want to forget out of the way.

Find ways to improve on bad memories. You may be able to replace a memory that you want to forget by building new memories that are similar to the old one. For example, if you want to forget a trip you took to San Francisco, consider making another trip to San Francisco or take a trip to somewhere near there. Visit Berkley, Oakland, or Palo Alto. During your trip, buy new t-shirts, take new beach photos, and check out new restaurants. If your ex's cologne is stuck in your mind, head to the fragrance counter.

Smell every single kind of men's cologne you can, clogging your mind with new scents and different kinds of fragrance. Go on dates. If you are bothered by memories of an ex, maybe going on a date will help you to move on and make some new good memories.

Consider talking to a therapist. If you are unable to forget or overcome negative feelings because of a bad memory, then it might be a good idea to seek the help of a therapist. A therapist can help you to deal with your emotions regarding a memory so that you can move on with your life. Allison Broennimann, PhD. Every single moment of our lives is stored in long-term memory in our bodies. If you're not sure what's bringing them up, try doing a scan of your senses and listen to what your body is telling you.

Is the light reminding you of something? Is it a smell or a flavor? Sometimes it might even be the time of day or certain shade from the clouds. Not Helpful 19 Helpful Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Listening to an audio book and concentrating on the story can help. Try something lighthearted yet interesting to distract yourself. Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0. Be patient.

Each method will take time and lots of repetition for success. Don't be deterred by failure but keep going. Ask for help if needed. Forgetting things can be challenging. Sometimes, it's better to think of something else instead. This way, you can divert your mind from thinking about the memory. Try doing this every time the memory pops up in your mind.

Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1. Try getting a song out of your head by simply looking up the lyrics. Unclear or forgotten lyrics are often the reason for a stuck song. Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0. If a memory comes up that you'd rather not remember, remind yourself that it's something that happened in the past—it isn't actually happening now. Related wikiHows How to.

How to. Clinical Psychologist. Expert Interview.