Forgetting and mental health

Many people say/think/believe that it is easy to just forget the past.  No matter whether the past is good or bad, that is what has led to the present day.  Ask anybody who suffers from PTSD if they can “just” forget the past.  The answer will always be no.

Whatever happens to people impacts their thoughts, beliefs, feelings, mental and physical health and opinions they form in life.  Forgetting the past is impossible because it shapes both the present and future.

Really, life isn’t about forgetting what has happened but learning how to accept and live with it whether it was good or bad.  For our mental health, this is absolutely essential.  

The past impacts every part of life and sometimes that means it will leave the person with low self esteem or no confidence in what they think, believe or do.  The option of learning how to accept/adapt/learn how to think and live differently is always there.  Trying to forget is not the answer.  Changing is.

Finding the right person and therapy to help is not as simple as just “going” to therapy or counselling.  That’s like saying taking a paracetamol for pain caused by a brain tumour will sort it out.  It doesn’t, as you know.  Not every bit of knowledge answers every issue.  Be nice if it did! But we know life isn’t like that.

TREASURE

It’s not about learning how to forget that helps mental health, but discovering how to learn to live with what has happened or is happening.