FORGET THE PAST: Researchers have confirmed what common wisdom has long held – that people can suppress emotionally troubling memories – and said they have sketched out how the brain accomplishes this.
In essence I agree, but not with the process .... ongoing reasonable or pleasurable experience expunges the past by far the best of all - brain processes indeed. Perhaps the most widely acclaimed example is child birth, that act of nature so necessary to species survival, that is touted by those afflicted with enduring this experience as the 'worst pain imaginable.' Yet it is a process to be repeated.
Unfortunately though, these days every man and his dog is set upon by counsellors for anything that could possibly be construed as 'traumatic' - such that these emotionally troubling memories become the focus, and often the cause of continued problems or debility, related or not.
1 comment:
Humans, especially children, are equipped to adapt (let go of the past). Darwin's theory of survival of the fittest actually alluded to survival of those who adapted best. Hence optimist's (who focus on the happy rather than unhappy memories) have better health and longevity. Counselling?? Just thinking they need it puts people at a disadvantage.
But I sometimes wonder if counsellors haven't exploited a breakdown in the permanency of family and other relationship ties.
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