CourtneyBCasual Contributor
Increasing frequency of unpleasant memories
Hi I am experiencing increasing frequency of unpleasant and embarrassing memories. I can experience up to 3 or 4 per minute. The memory could be recent such as from earlier that day or a long forgotten memory from high school.
They are often as simple as recalling myself interrupting someone when they spoke so I’m bombarded with an unpleasant embarrassment that I had acted inappropriately and thus that other person dislikes me and I also feel shame.
Earlier in life such feelings were less frequent such as only once a year but I would become very distressed about such incidents and could feel overwhelmed for an entire day and cry myself to exhaustion.
At present though they are happening at least weekly and often multiple times a day. What is different though is that when an unpleasant memory surfaces I will repeat ‘help me help me help me’ 3 times and then the thought is completely gone. But soon after a completely different memory will emerge in which I again repeat ‘help me, help me, help me’ and then it’s gone also.
How can I stop all these numerous memories from emerging in the first place and creating that strong sense of shame and guilt?
Did anyone else ever repeat a phrase, make humming noise, sing a tune, yell out or tap their head or rock back and forth to help rid unpleasant thoughts? Is there a cure or better approach? Any book or website recommendations? Or does anyone one know research on this topic or correct medical terminology for it?
