This situation has profound consequences for the way our brain, which has 86 billion neurons and 10 trillion synapses, processes memories and our psychology. of its complex mechanism descended from.

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

How does the memory processing mechanism work in our brain?

Our brains process and store every event we experience through a series of electrical and chemical processes. But not all memories are created equal. Special memories with high emotional intensity, It shows that it leaves deeper marks in the part of our brain called the limbic system.

limbic systemthat plays a major role in our emotions and our memory hippocampus and amygdala It contains structures such as. In particular, the amygdala plays a role in processing memories related to the perception of threat or stress, making these memories more permanent in the brain. In other words, the durability of a memory depends on the emotional response 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 disturbing event occurs, the brain is activated avoid similar situations or saves these memories mainly to be able to respond better.

This creates moments of stress, anxiety or pain in the brain. takes up more “space”. and it becomes harder for them to be forgotten.

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

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

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

There is also an age factor.

If you look at it emotionally, the worst period for all of us is between the ages of 20 and 30. So basically young people, pays more attention to negative memories. The fact that they gather more information for an uncertain future and remember more to manage their future also influences this process.

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

What can we do to drive away our bad memories?

If this situation is really negatively affecting your life, there are some things you can do. In addition to relaxation techniques, if you remember a bad memory, remember it first. See what the trigger is. Is it a place, a smell or a sound?

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

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 the color; Therefore, we can be even more purposeful in remembering challenging moments and learning from them.

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