How to stop remembering painful memories
Hello this is my first time on this app! Nice to meet you all.
For years I have this problem of always remembering the most embarrassing or stupidest thing I did in the past even if it is the smallest thing that people don’t care about. Every time my brain remembers them I feel so ashamed and upset at myself that I want to punch something or worse punish myself like starving. These painful memories keeps haunting me everyday where I wish it can all go away and leave me in peace.
I’m hoping in this community thread can help me learn how to leave things in the past and move on. (Let me know if my grammar is bad, I tend to do that when I am ranting)
I'm sure you'll find many people on this site who have the same or similar experiences and feelings - I'm definitely one of them! I've just been doing a 'path' (look at the top left of the screen) about 'self forgiveness'. It's been really helpful. As you suggest - we need to deal with these events in our lives and leave them in the past in some way. Key to that is forgiving yourself. We all make mistakes. Be kind to yourself - you deserve it!
I do the same thing. I remember those things even from childhood. It feels like I'm living it all again when I remember them and it pops up more when I'm in my anxiety state. It's the weirdest thing. I have one thing that involves my mother from when I was 8. I made the decision that I'm going to talk with her about that moment and see if she remembers. That might help give it a place. I'm so happy you shared your story. I don't have a solution but I'm sure we can find tools that help us make peace with those moments.
We make mistakes so that we can learn from them. They are not to be forgotten. It's always those painful ones that stay with us. Facing them and moving on is the way to go. No one is perfect.
These mistakes can only make us wiser and stronger. Keep your chin up!
