https://www.reddit.com/r/CPTSD/comments/1ij0qrx/bad_memories/
created by lashaffer99 on 06/02/2025 at 11:49 UTC
19 upvotes, 5 top-level comments (showing 5)
What do you do when the bad memories come and you cannot get them out of your head and your brain just wants to hyper fixate? I was having a pretty good morning, and then out of no where with seemingly no trigger my brain was like “remember this terrible thing that happened? Let’s think about it and ruin our day!”
Comment by anti-sugar_dependant at 06/02/2025 at 13:09 UTC*
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I get on the sofa with a blanket and watch comfort movies. Hallmark is my go to, because they're predictable happy endings, so they're safe.
Oh, but first I write the memory down, if I haven't before. Mainly because if I don't, I'll forget it again for a long time, and having notes is helpful for therapy, and remembering my parent is horrific if I forget (happened in the early days), but also because writing it out helps sort of get it out of my head? I think it's a processing thing, and PTSD/CPTSD because we didn't process the trauma, so processing is a good thing.
Comment by ExcitingPurpose2018 at 06/02/2025 at 12:05 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'm having the same problem. I'd probably feel 10x better if I could get the memories and thoughts about it to slow down.
Comment by Hopeful-Ne at 06/02/2025 at 12:24 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Facing that shit works for me well. I do not run from them, do not reject, I let them pass, and allow myself to feel what Im feeling, plus some act of self-care always helps, like making a cup of tea with attention to the process, or making some food I like – sort of things that allowed me to be present. And yoga (it could literally be a minute or two).
For me, most bad memories have always been accompanied by fear, so this mental trick works amazingly well based on my experience:
I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.
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1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
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Comment by CooperCheesePlease at 06/02/2025 at 14:21 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I haven't really figured out a sure thing that will always get my mind off my thoughts, but I try to distract myself. I will put on certain youtubers whose voices don't trigger me, or if I'm lucky I will have my bf take me on a car ride and he will start a conversation about something stupid and I will get distracted by that flow of conversation. For me, it's a lot of noise that holds a conversation about something completely unrelated to the memories. Again, it's not a sure-fire way of getting my mind off bad memories, but it helps most of the time.