I cringe every time I remember what happened.
How can I make it so these things dont just pop up in my head anymore?
Amy Answers
Bad memories can be quite disturbing.
Verywell / Catherine Song
Fortunately, there are some things you could do to deal with the bad memories that keep popping up.
Emotional Memories Leave an Imprint
Emotional memories leave imprints on our brains.
But you likely remember the times you got rejected, felt terrified, or experienced extreme embarrassment.
Your brain responds differently to highly emotional experiences than ordinary events.
When yourecognize your triggers, it’s possible for you to decide how to respond to them.
You might decide its just easier to avoid them than to resist the discomfort they cause.
Its often easier to respond to those memories when you know why theyre cropping up.
Seeing that they arent as random as you think they are can help you feel more in control.
Try associating those triggers with pleasant memories instead.
Thats whyexposure therapycan help.
This may involve talking about the experience until it doesnt feel so threatening anymore.
Writing about your experience in a journal can help.
Rather than diving into how horrible you felt, describe the facts as objectively as possible.
Find out which option is the best for you.
