Delete painful memories from brain

Nika said:
Thank you for explanation much better than I ever could, jillio. <smile>
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You are quite welcome. As I read on in the thread, I saw that we were both saying the same thing...just using different ways of saying it.
 
Hear Again said:
how exactly did i prove your point?

and why do you think deafblind doesn't equal normal?
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jillio said:
Exactly. Not hearing and not seeing is normal to a deafblind person. Just as not hearing is normal to a deaf person, and not seeing is normal to a blind person. While those conditions may not be normal for the hearing and the sighted, it could also be said that to hear and to see is considered to be abnormal for the deaf/blind. Normal is subjective and based on individual perspective and circumstance. That is why suggesting that a person with a disability is "not normal" is very offensive.
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I wanted to jump in here.

I agree with the both of you, but I can see where he/she is coming from. I don't agree with it, but I can kinda see his point of view. I think it's a matter of perceptions. People's perception of what is "normal" is skewed. What may be "normal" for me, isn't for somebody else. Same with you or anyone else. I would be highly offended if someone said to me *I* wasn't normal, but on the other hand, the majority of people are able-bodied, so in that sense...

I think what matters most is how the person defines themselves. Society puts so many limits on a person and why? If a person can ignore what society says and just be themselves, this world would be a much better place.
 
Oceanbreeze said:
I wanted to jump in here.

I agree with the both of you, but I can see where he/she is coming from. I don't agree with it, but I can kinda see his point of view. I think it's a matter of perceptions. People's perception of what is "normal" is skewed. What may be "normal" for me, isn't for somebody else. Same with you or anyone else. I would be highly offended if someone said to me *I* wasn't normal, but on the other hand, the majority of people are able-bodied, so in that sense...

I think what matters most is how the person defines themselves. Society puts so many limits on a person and why? If a person can ignore what society says and just be themselves, this world would be a much better place.
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Agreed. The problem is, when anyone defines disability as "abnormal" rather than as "different", a value judgement has been placed on the idividual. Those value judgements are used to justify discrimination and create barriers. Then, when the disabled has difficulty overcoming the barriers placed by those value judgements, it creates a false sense of the value judgement having been correct. It is a circular self fulfilling prophecy.
 
jillio said:
it creates a false sense of the value judgement having been correct. It is a circular self fulfilling prophecy.
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Exactly! Again thank you for articulating so well. It leads to internalization which then drives oppression, and the cycle continues.
 
jillio said:
No, ect is not used for PTSD.
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Thank goodness!

I am sure that ECT has it's place in treating intractable depression, but I would be very leery in undergoing the procedure. I have a diagnosis that *may* qualify me for the procedure, but I would *only* consent to as a last resort.
 
While removing painful memories may be good, it's still something that we live by.

We learn from our mistakes. It's what often motivates us to do better.

Remove a memory, and we remove a part of ourselves.

What if a painful memory was connected to a wonderful memory? Remove that painful memory, and what was once wonderful... is no longer wonderful. :(
 
Oceanbreeze said:
Thank goodness!

I am sure that ECT has it's place in treating intractable depression, but I would be very leery in undergoing the procedure. I have a diagnosis that *may* qualify me for the procedure, but I would *only* consent to as a last resort.
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ECT should only be used as a last resort tx. There are too many side effects for it to be used in any but the most severe cases that do not respond to any other form of tx.
 
jillio said:
There are too many side effects for it to be used in any but the most severe cases that do not respond to any other form of tx.
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Are you a mental health professional? You're using the shortcuts. <laugh>
 
Nika said:
Are you a mental health professional? You're using the shortcuts. <laugh>
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Lol, yes I am! You picked up on that one immediately!:giggle: I didn't even realize I had used the abbreviation!
 
posts from hell said:
The question still remains: If the memory is eliminated for a certain PTSD event, would the emotion be eliminated?
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no. emotion is a natural built-in stimuli. When forming a memory - many things are (associated) attached with it - certain emotion and depending on each people - certain 5 senses or all.

posts from hell said:
Then that would defeat the purpose?
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no. the point is - it's to remove that memory. certain emotion is attached to that memory.

for example - when you have a paper cut, the emotions involved in this are fear and perhaps anger. now you have formed a memory of having a paper cut. You associated that memory with fear and anger. Because of memory and association - you have a fear of paper or whatsoever. By removing the memory of paper cut, you're not afraid of paper anymore. Your emotions (fear and anger) are still there but it's not associated with paper cut.

By removing that memory - you can't remember or don't know what you're angry/afraid about. This would greatly help those with crippling traumatic memories. I cannot think of anything more horrible than vividly reliving your worst nightmare nearly everyday.....
 
IndieVisible said:
Hmmm. I see two problems I am imediately concerned with.

1. Accidential deletion!

What if the doctors make a mistake and delete the wrong memory?

2. In the wrong hands!

What if this technology gets to the wrong people. Kidnap some one, politician, businessman, etc, delete important memories!

This technology would be better if deleted momories could be restored if needed.
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hey - same thing for plastic surgery, laser eye surgery, liposuction, and drugs.
 
Nika said:
I have been "crippled" by painful memories, but have managed to grow emotionally anyway. Obviously not everyone is me, but I think it varies a lot from person to person. Some people might have PTSD to a point they feel "beyond repair," and then maybe in that case memory erasure would be worth considering. At best I'd have to say it's a case by case situation.
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yep... pretty much - case by case. there are handful of people out there who are crippled by it and those who are crippled by it suffer from it for a long time... unable to function "normally" in life such as socializing, working, etc. for ie - stuck in his/her room most of time for years... just brooding over it and unable to socialize with other people.

but very good to hear that you have coped with it :cool2:
 
Jiro said:
By removing that memory - you can't remember or don't know what you're angry/afraid about.]
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People in this situation often don't know what to do with their anger. For example, I know someone that was date-raped. She doesn't remember the rape, but she did wake up feeling angry and sad and not knowing why. The only reason she knows is because of the physical evidence. Despite having no memory of the actual rape itself, she does still have the anger and sadness. Deleting a memory doesn't necessarily delete the emotions from it. In fact, people with PTSD are known for storing memory content and emotions separately. PTSD is the very case where the emotions and memory are split, so removing the memory doesn't necessarily remove the emotion.
 
posts from hell said:
IE: Employment rate among the disabled is higher than the normal people.
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The employment rate among the disabled is high not because they are disabled but because of discrimination.

The owners who refused to modify the stairs to ramp are keeping those in wheelchair out of their building. People who refused to learn sign language are keeping the deaf people out of the loop and thus out of education/jobs.
 
Nika said:
People in this situation often don't know what to do with their anger. For example, I know someone that was date-raped. She doesn't remember the rape, but she did wake up feeling angry and sad and not knowing why. The only reason she knows is because of the physical evidence. Despite having no memory of the actual rape itself, she does still have the anger and sadness. Deleting a memory doesn't necessarily delete the emotions from it. In fact, people with PTSD are known for storing memory content and emotions separately. PTSD is the very case where the emotions and memory are split, so removing the memory doesn't necessarily remove the emotion.
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which is why brain is a very very very complicated matter..... there's no easy, quick fix. like what you said before - case by case... this fix won't work for all.
 
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