Why Are Bad Memories Not Forgotten While Good Memories Are Forgotten Immediately?

This situation has profound effects on the way our brain, which records with 86 billion neurons and 10 trillion synapses, processes memories and our psychology. from its complex mechanism stems from.

Since there are many studies on memories, there are also different reasons. Tendency to retain bad memories It even varies depending on age. How?

How does the memory processing mechanism in our brain work?

Our brain processes and stores every event we experience through a series of electrical and chemical processes. But not all memories are created equal. Especially memories with high emotional intensity, It shows that it leaves deeper traces in the part of our brain we call the limbic system.

limbic systemwhich plays a big role in our emotions and memory hippocampus and amygdala It contains structures such as. In particular, the amygdala comes into play when processing memories related to threat perception or stress, causing these memories to become more permanent in the brain. In other words, the permanence of a memory depends on the emotional reaction we experience at that moment. It may increase depending on its severity.

Bad memories are marked as “important” by the brain because they often have high emotional content.

Psychologically speaking, such memories function as a defense mechanism. When a dangerous or distressing event occurs, the brain avoiding similar situations or primarily retains these memories in order to respond better.

Therefore, moments involving stress, fear or pain occur in the brain. takes up more “space” and it becomes more difficult for them to be forgotten.

Adrenaline and cortisol hormones secreted during stress help consolidate memories in the brain.

Hormones, especially during a difficult or traumatic experience, It strengthens synaptic connections that cause memories to be stored in more detail and permanently. Research shows that high levels of these hormones play an important role in remembering bad memories, especially.

From an evolutionary perspective, this suggests that our ancestors remembered dangerous situations. increased their chances of survival It also makes me think it might be.

There is also the age factor involved.

If you look at it emotionally, the worst period for all of us can be seen between the ages of 20-30. So actually young people, pays more attention to negative memories. The fact that they collect more information for an uncertain future and remember more to manage their future also affects this process.

As people get older, can live more in the present, By focusing on positive moments, they make that moment feel good. In this way, negativities are not dwelled on too much and are not permanently engraved in the memory.

What can we do to drive away our bad memories?

If this situation is really affecting your life negatively, there are some things you can do. Beyond relaxation techniques, when you remember a bad memory, you should remember it first. See what triggers it. Is it a place, a smell, or a sound?

Once you realize what triggered the fear, you can show yourself more clearly that you are alive and that moment is behind you. Deep breathing techniques You can help overcome this situation by using

Remember that the permanence of our bad memories is both an evolutionary necessity and a biological necessity.

With this information, you can better manage your memories of future experiences and perhaps develop strategies to strengthen positive memories in your mind. of our memories We are the ones who determine its color; Therefore, we can be even more intentional about how to remember challenging moments and learn from them.

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