You know you can think of happy memories and feel the happy emotion, if you let yourself. Just like you can think of a scary or sad memory and feel that emotion.
There is a definite connection between what our memories have stored and how we generally feel. If there is very strong emotion associated with a memory, a person may tend to feel that emotion in some way, constantly, below the surface.
The strong emotion associated with memories can cause disorders such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The emotions can also cause more normal life problems, such as anger, stress, sadness, or fear.
Medication commonly prescribed for relief of these issues, but it only attempts to address the ’symptoms’ rather than address the cause. The problem is rarely ‘fixed’ with medication.
The key to long term help with these issues would appear to be the emotional association with the memory. What would happen if that association could be erased, reduced or even changed?
A process is being researched using the medication, propranolol, which works as an “amnesia drug”. The theory is to directly disrupt the connection between our memories and the emotions associated with them.
This study, in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, talks about psychiatrists at McGill University and Harvard University using the amnesia drug to disrupt the memories of trauma victims. The drug reduces the emotional part of the memory while leaving the conscious part of the memory.
People can still remember what happened, but get a sense of distance or detachment from the memory. How permanent this process is and any potential side effects are not discussed.
There are other ways to reduce and change the emotion connected to memories. Other processes that are well tested, well established and without side-effects.
Hypnosis seems better suited for this process since, when in hypnosis, you are using the emotional part of your mind. This is particularly true with traumatic memories from childhood. When re-experiencing memories from childhood (revivification) a person often “feels” young again, rather than experiencing it with their current age and experience.
When using modern hypnosis to re-experience a traumatic memory, the hypnotist needs to be properly trained for the process to be quick and effective. When these conditions are met, the client can experience the memory with the perspective of adulthood. This alone will often reduce or negate the emotions involved.
This process is essentially about gaining perspective on the experience and the client’s part in the experience. This process will often create a sense of distance and separation from the memory. A memory, minus the negative emotions.
– by Patrick Glancy
Article Source: http://www.articleyard.com
Information about the Author:
Patrick Glancy, National Guild of Hypnotists Board Certified Hypnotist
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