Friday, February 22, 2008 at 1:01am
Repressed memories
Recently a bunch of researchers at an Ivy League university declared that there is no such thing as repressed memories. They do not exist.
Now, I know from experience that repressed memories do exist. I've had a few of my own. Difficult situations in our lives, especially the traumatic ones, are stored in the cells of our brains. When something similar happens in the present, that imprint is triggered, and you remember what happened and have to deal with the emotions and circumstances all over again.
This is not a bad thing. It's a way to remind yourself that there's something in your mind or heart that is unresolved, and is affecting you in a negative way. Little by little, we untangle the ideas, beliefs and fears that keep us stuck.
So OK, maybe these researchers have traumatic incidents in their own pasts and haven't yet come to terms with them. But the more you submerge those images and feelings in your own subconscious, or even further into your unconscious, the louder they cry to be released. Facing your demons and working through them is the road to peace.
I find it hard to believe that none of these scientists has had a glimpse of a time in the past that shook the foundation of his/her worldview. Mine gets shaken fairly frequently. But trying to make this stuff go away and pretend it never existed is the road to hell.
Do the big thinkers have some stake in whether memories get repressed or not? Perhaps none of them has been aware that they're not answering the call of their soul. For them, it seems to mean that they don't want to know that there are parts of themselves they haven't yet explored. Or maybe they explored their depths but can't fathom how to heal them.
And why make a big kerfuffle about the difference between repressed memory as opposed to conscious memory? Long-buried problems can cause as much pain as present ones. It's the nature of the memory that counts, how it influences you, and how it offers understanding beyond your conscious thinking mind. When you push a painful memory back into the dark recesses of your mind, it has no ground in which to light its way to a more uplifting result.
Because each of us is a spirit on a physical journey, we are always living, seeing, intuiting the inevitability of change and personal evolution. When we deny parts of the puzzle that is our life, we lose touch with our soul. The bigwigs of academia seem not to want to know what their subconscious is trying to process. Maybe they feel out of control when painful memories rock the boat, so they demean the process rather than turning to their own inner wisdom for help in understanding the underlying meaning.
Unraveling your stuck places is not dangerous, or devastating, or scary. It's a powerful cleansing that puts you more in touch with the nature of life and the purpose of your own life. It gives you a new perspective and supports changes in you that illuminate your growth and open your heart.
You can only repress for so long without it being detrimental to your emotional, physical, and spiritual health. To enjoy a long-lived and happy life, let the truth arise. Learn to handle your own evolution. Let your memories surface. Investigate the wisdom they offer. Set your course for a bigger picture of yourself and your life. Trust your intuition, and develop the strength to free yourself from superstition and fear so you can find courage and enlightenment.
— — —
Suzanne Gold (BA, MA in psychology) is a personal and spiritual counselor in California, and teacher of metaphysical methods and principles from around the world. She has worked as a therapist in private practice, residential psychiatric and drug treatment centers, and taught a class called "Surviving a Dysfunctional Family" at St. Mary's College of California. Also an award-winning author, vocalist and songwriter, Suzanne once sang the National Anthem for the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. Contact her at {email Suzanne@SuzanneGold.com}Suzanne@SuzanneGold.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Suzanne Gold.
Now, I know from experience that repressed memories do exist. I've had a few of my own. Difficult situations in our lives, especially the traumatic ones, are stored in the cells of our brains. When something similar happens in the present, that imprint is triggered, and you remember what happened and have to deal with the emotions and circumstances all over again.
This is not a bad thing. It's a way to remind yourself that there's something in your mind or heart that is unresolved, and is affecting you in a negative way. Little by little, we untangle the ideas, beliefs and fears that keep us stuck.
So OK, maybe these researchers have traumatic incidents in their own pasts and haven't yet come to terms with them. But the more you submerge those images and feelings in your own subconscious, or even further into your unconscious, the louder they cry to be released. Facing your demons and working through them is the road to peace.
I find it hard to believe that none of these scientists has had a glimpse of a time in the past that shook the foundation of his/her worldview. Mine gets shaken fairly frequently. But trying to make this stuff go away and pretend it never existed is the road to hell.
Do the big thinkers have some stake in whether memories get repressed or not? Perhaps none of them has been aware that they're not answering the call of their soul. For them, it seems to mean that they don't want to know that there are parts of themselves they haven't yet explored. Or maybe they explored their depths but can't fathom how to heal them.
And why make a big kerfuffle about the difference between repressed memory as opposed to conscious memory? Long-buried problems can cause as much pain as present ones. It's the nature of the memory that counts, how it influences you, and how it offers understanding beyond your conscious thinking mind. When you push a painful memory back into the dark recesses of your mind, it has no ground in which to light its way to a more uplifting result.
Because each of us is a spirit on a physical journey, we are always living, seeing, intuiting the inevitability of change and personal evolution. When we deny parts of the puzzle that is our life, we lose touch with our soul. The bigwigs of academia seem not to want to know what their subconscious is trying to process. Maybe they feel out of control when painful memories rock the boat, so they demean the process rather than turning to their own inner wisdom for help in understanding the underlying meaning.
Unraveling your stuck places is not dangerous, or devastating, or scary. It's a powerful cleansing that puts you more in touch with the nature of life and the purpose of your own life. It gives you a new perspective and supports changes in you that illuminate your growth and open your heart.
You can only repress for so long without it being detrimental to your emotional, physical, and spiritual health. To enjoy a long-lived and happy life, let the truth arise. Learn to handle your own evolution. Let your memories surface. Investigate the wisdom they offer. Set your course for a bigger picture of yourself and your life. Trust your intuition, and develop the strength to free yourself from superstition and fear so you can find courage and enlightenment.
— — —
Suzanne Gold (BA, MA in psychology) is a personal and spiritual counselor in California, and teacher of metaphysical methods and principles from around the world. She has worked as a therapist in private practice, residential psychiatric and drug treatment centers, and taught a class called "Surviving a Dysfunctional Family" at St. Mary's College of California. Also an award-winning author, vocalist and songwriter, Suzanne once sang the National Anthem for the San Francisco Giants at Candlestick Park. Contact her at {email Suzanne@SuzanneGold.com}Suzanne@SuzanneGold.com{/email}. © Copyright 2008 by Suzanne Gold.