Help with forgeting the Past


Over2000Blizzards's avatar
I can't seem to forget what others did to me. I can't even forget the bullying that happened to me. It just seems that everything that happens with a people I see for quite a time is impossible to forget. I know the fact that it's the person fault to give me a bad memory. I forgive them, but the memory keeps coming back to haunt me. I often bite my lips, imagining harm to them like a sadistic person. I do this to ease off the trauma. I realize that if I were to bring pain to them, it would mean nothing to them: The oppressors would call me dumb and fight me back. I tried getting assistance from a therapist, but he was after my money like most therapists here. I need help.
Comments20
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Touji-01's avatar
You're experiencing pain from an emotional wound that needs to be healed. Much like a deep physical injury, this is something that requires a lot of time and effort to recover from. It's unfortunate that we cannot simply use our minds to ignore it like physical injuries because it is our mind itself that is hurt.

Many people go through what you feel so you're not alone. It's taken me six years to recover from mental problems and I've only recently started to feel anything close to "normal", yet I would say I still need several more months at a minimum to heal. I felt the same thing, the same bad memories playing over and over again and the same bad thoughts, the desire to see harm done onto those who have harmed me.

Professional help would be best, you simply need to find the right person. I'm sorry you got a bad therapist though. Besides professional therapy, you can try venting and sharing your burdens with someone you trust, if they're willing to do so. Other than that, there are lots of self-help resources that you can find through books or the internet. Look up keywords like methods of dealing with bad memories or forgetting the past.

The best way to recover is to get yourself in a position where recovery is possible, i.e where you are no longer being bullied and you are in a positive environment where you can feel safe. With a physical injury, the best way to heal is to keep yourself healthy: eat right, get enough sleep, avoid any straining or harmful activities. By putting your body in a physically healthy environment, you are letting it slowly rebuild itself. This is the same for mental injuries: not only do you have to keep yourself physically healthy first, you have to keep yourself in a mentally/emotionally healthy environment in order to slowly heal.

You are in pain because bad incidents have thought your mind the world is dangerous so you're constantly on alert. Put yourself in an environment where you can feel safe and secure and your mind will slowly relax and relearn things are okay. It's something that you have to constantly, constantly put effort into. There are several steps you can take to run through this process

- Resolve the past. Come to an understanding with it, including why it happened. You will need to look at it objectively from all points of view. You don't have to like any of it, but you should seek to accept that it happened. Accept any faults and weaknesses, whether those of others or your own. Accept that some things may be out of your control. Accept that somethings could have been done better. This is important for the next step.
- Learn from the past. What has this experience taught you? What could have been done differently? How would you deal with this in the future? One of the most troubling things we experience is having our worldview shattered, especially when we get bullied and learn that the world is no longer a nice place. But if we can learn from our experiences and reshape our worldview, we can come to a better understanding of life, become stronger, and deal with life more bravely.
- Let go of the past. Once you've learned everything you can from the past (and this can take quite a while), the last thing to do is to let go of it. Of course, this doesn't just happen automatically. You can learn everything but still keep thinking about the same bad memories over and over.

This is where you have to put the most effort and focus on the present and the future. You have to constantly remind yourself that the past is done and over and constantly shift your focus towards the road ahead instead. The best way to do this is to find something positive that will keep you occupied, whether this is a hobby or work or a relationship.

I'd suggest doing some research into Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). It's a method where you keep track of your thoughts, learn to recognize negative ones, and work to shape them into more positive thoughts. Our mind is like a muscle, we form mental habits just like we form physical ones, and this includes both positive and negative habits such as self-loating, self-doubt, low confidence, etc. And much like physical habits, mental habits can be changed and improved as well.

I hope this helps. Good luck. The road to recovery is long and arduous one.
briannTG's avatar
ShardSharp2000, when I try to forget something awful from the past - I simply start writing, absolutely everything, or especially future plans. In that way, when I write essay - it helps my brain to get distracted from things that cannot leave my head without it. And one more thing - you have to relax. In any way, relaxation is a keystone thing that will help you to forget the past and concentrate on your present of the future.
EMMYSANOfficial's avatar
I had went through the same thing, plus abuse from a stepparent and a ex girlfriend that caused complete trauma towards me. 
I use coping methods (ex. distracting myself, coloring, etc.). 
It might be different for you. No matter what, always be yourself, okay? None of them will ever change the way you are. You are special. 
NinjaWithNoBalance's avatar
i get you i 100% KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ! :( 

you must not bring your self down to their low by hurting them that will only get you problems!. its okay if you keep it only in your head !
i to have someone who i think deserves to get smashed by a meteor ! for hurting someone i love my attacking them and misuseing trust and stealing from us .

you  have to ignore it and try and forget it. if you can move somewere you wont get reminded about it!

or go and see if you can have some fun and make some nice memorys ! !
just dont dig in the dirt if you get what i mean ( its okay to let it out to someone you truly trust )
MisterPain's avatar
"He did me this, he did me that."
Does thinking about this even helps you? I don't think so.
Also, biting your own lips isn't sadistic, it's masochistic.
Stop seeking revenge, it will only burn your mind out.
Over2000Blizzards's avatar
Like I said, doing revenge to them means nothing: They will do the same to you or mock you. I don’t do revenge but the bad memories keep coming.
MisterPain's avatar
or you can do worse than them, in a context in which you don't get busted. but I haven't given you such suggestion ;)
bunnylovinggrl's avatar
Forget them and focus on yourself. Work on who you want to be. Do you have any dreams in life? Are there any hobbies or new things you want to learn?
Also agree with otakuking68, revenge: but let me elaborate. The best revenge you can give to a bunch of bullies is to become the best person you can be. To be better than them. To fulfill your life for yourself. To thrive despite them. And remember to never stoop down to their level.

On another note: What goes around comes around. I am mad at this huge jerk. Years of painful memories, that would take hours to explain. I honestly wanted to slash his tires when I broke contact. I didn't. A few days later, Karma came around and he ended up with a flat tire anyway. I didn't have to slash his tires. My soul is clean of that act Pink Angel
Use your time to make yourself better, and in time your bullies will eventually get what they deserve. Don't become pre-occupied with them and don't contact them, don't give them the power to ruin your life. With time away from them, as you move on with your life then your pain will fade. You will build new memories, and find people who care for you. Let your pain be replaced with that happiness.
Over2000Blizzards's avatar
That type of revenge is the best there is. Forgetting is hard. Whatever I do, it still comes back to haunt me.
bunnylovinggrl's avatar
It takes time. You need to distance yourself from the people who hurt you too.
When you're stressed your body also goes into "fight or flight" mode and working out can help; like pushups, jogging, turn up the music and dance or whatever you want to do. Otherwise your body will keep the "fight or flight" hormones and internalize them which then turns into panic attacks or anxiety if you don't do any physical activity.

Other ways to help cope: Talk with some friends or go out and try to make new friends. Make art. Work on a dream board, it'll help you focus better on what you want to be good at and what your dreams are (and revise with time). Write in a diary. I know it sounds cheesy, but writing down your feelings and thoughts can help you analyze yourself better and will help you process the events and also your feelings.
I wish you well in your recovery.
Cheltea23's avatar
Yep.. forgiving is actually one way to be a better version for yourself. You might think that forgiving is for the benefit of that person, but in reality, forgiving them do benefit for you and only you. Last week I have a public speaking test where I talked about forgiving. It's not about forgetting and tolerating what they did to you but to let go of your negative thought when you think of that person.

Not forgiving someone is like when you got stabbed on your arm, but you let that knive sit still on your wound until your wound got infected and your arm became worse - in other word, you need to forgive for your own sake. But when you forgive someone is like, pulling that knive out of your arm and treating that wound. The wound might still be there but it wond be as worse as when you let the knive sits on your wound.

Cheers! I also learned to forgive my own father fully after 4 years, and during that time my father actually change for the better! ^^ Try to do the simplest kind thing you can do, maybe smile or just greet them? It's all step by step ^^
bunnylovinggrl's avatar
I think there is a saying: "Forgiveness sets a prisoner free and makes me realize that prisoner was me"
I agree Cheltea23, lack of forgiveness can make you poison your own well.
BlackLenk's avatar
Why would you forgive them? You don't have to forgive anyone anything. It's obvious that what they have done to you still makes you feel bad, so just don't forgive them. Why the hell would you? If it was me, I would never want to forget what they have done. I would keep it deep in my memory so I could take my revange when the right time comes. 
There was once a person who hurt me and left me. After a moth came back apologizing. I just said I forgive him to skip further conversation. Later I realized I haven't forgiven him and as years pased by we didn't talk anymore. Not a long ago he aproached me again saying I changed and grew to beauty. I won't lie. It made me feel kinda spiteful.
lightning-13's avatar
You never really forget anything that happens to you. You just don't have access to all memories, because it would be too much. We remember specific moments. Especially meaningfull moments, something that meant extra or which made you feel in a certain way. Anything related to strong feelings and thoughts, will always leave scars. The more you think about something, an event or accident or a memory, the stronger it gets. It's easier to remember and feel the pain again. 
BrettyBoy1993's avatar
I’m not sure how to help, sadly. Just try to think that maybe the people who bullied you in the past have changed now.
GameTrek's avatar
Learn to not give a damn and go outside and start associating with people.....


Again I do not know your location. So I do not know how things are for you or your living standards.


You can stop caring about certain things and move forward. If I can sure can you.

PM about your issue if you do not want to post it
There is some way to forget about the past and start new life. And it's casino! Once my friend told me to try, but i didn't expect that amout of fun (and profit ;). You can try play.casino and tell us then your thoughts
generalrusty78's avatar
Just remember, everyone that wronged you will die.