Addiction and Trauma Video
Tim Welch, LPCC Mental Health Counseling,
Newark, Ohio Licking County Online Therapy. Virtual Counseling for Alcohol Addiction, Drug Addiction, Anxiety, Depression & Mental Health Issues.
Distracting/disrupting the working memory when trying to reduce past trauma
When pulling up past stress or trauma into your working memory and then having someone distract you or give you another task to try to focus on, the process can be connected to the concept of memory reconsolidation. This technique is often used in therapies like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and can help reduce the impact of traumatic memories. Here's a simplified explanation of how it works: 1. Memory Reconsolidation: Memory reconsolidation is a process by which existing memories are brought back into our conscious awareness and then re-stored in the brain with potential modifications. When a memory is recalled, it becomes temporarily malleable, which means it can be modified before being stored again. 2. Working Memory and Distraction/Disruption: When you pull up a past stressful or traumatic memory into your working memory, it becomes active and accessible to your conscious mind. At this moment, the memory is vulnerable to change. Introducing a distraction...
