If you experienced a painful or traumatic event, would you want a pill which could lessen the bad memories of?

Question

should we not keep our memories and learn from them...isn't that what life is about.

http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/21/memory_drug

Answer 1

I was thinking of is the last 5 seconds of the Utah BYU game on Saturday... :( Jim

Answer 2

If your memories limit your ability to function in your current reality, then a pill might be the right thing to do in order to help you move past the impact of these memories. In other words, if your memories make it so you look at yourself and the world "through a glass darkly" then how can you digest the fundamental meaning of these experiences and incorporate the lessons learned into a brighter and more productive day? But...

If the pill is a crutch, then equally, it's time to discard the pill and face what needs to be faced.

It is a fine balancing act. Consequently, the real need for an educated, effective and conscious medical profession. But if there is a real tool that can help, I do not believe it should be excluded due to what it is. Take the benefit from that tool but with an open eye to it's flip-side. Awareness is important in this and all things that impact your ability to effectively deal with the past, present and future.

Answer 3

I've been through numerous traumatic events that start when I was the age of 7.
And no, I wouldn't want a pill that would lessen my bad memories. I believe that the brain processes painful memories the way it does for a reason. In my particular situation, remembering the negative things that occurred serves as a cautionary reminder for my future. I believe that our brains torture us with our memories at times to keep us aware of defensive strategies we can use against having the same things occur again.
Therapy helps cope with these memories without actually chemically wiping them from our brains. I think doing that is dangerous. Recovering from a trauma is hard, hard work.
And recovering helps you learn things about yourself.
A pill would only cause a victim/patient to skip that vital step toward healing.

Answer 4

Yes. There is the good with the bad--even in death!

If we just erase what bad things have happened, we will always repeat the mistakes and we will never learn. Think about the worst thing that has happened in your life...if you erased it...what person would you be?

If people are bitter, they should learn to let go and find the good in it all. If they can't do that, they should be punished by their bitterness. Bad things happen. A lot of bad things happen to everyone...that doesn't mean you just take a pill and make it go away!

Memories can be painful, but in dealing with that pain and looking towards a bright future...strenght can be found. Without that ability and talent, the human race will not progress much further from where we are now.

Answer 5

I think I would only if I only had to take one dose of the pill. Otherwise I don't see how becoming emotionally addicted to a pill to make me seem happier would in the long run help my life. I would want to be able to deal with any kind of situation. I personally believe that many, if not most of the people whose lives are adversely affected by these kinds of situations are the ones that didn't see any justice occur in the end. They feel helpless and hopeless. If their traumatic event occurred because of someone, and that someone got off scott free in the real world, then it makes the victim see no justice, and no hope for justice in the future. Just a thought.

Answer 6

Wow, no I would not want it unless the memories became a serious problem for me. For example, if I were suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and this was making life hard to live, then it would be something I would at least consider.

What really confuses me, is it says the pill is "Propranolol" which I happen to be on! I take it to prevent migraine headaches. I'll have to read more about this!

Answer 7

Personally I wouldn't, and I've gone through some bad things. But I can't imagine I would be the same person without my experiences.

At the same time, I think that a pill like this might be useful for someone who has bad PTSD as a result of being tortured or something like that. If their bad memories are interfering with their life so strongly that they can't function properly then any learning value might not be worth it.

Answer 8

I think time lessens the memories for us if u don't overindulge in them. Of course if the traumatic event was EXTREMELY horrific (more than the usual death, sickness, loss of love stuff we all go thru) and it was keeping me from living a full life, then I could see using something to make it go away.

Answer 9

That would depend on how debilitating those memories were. I would think that it imight be beneifical for someone that ahs suffered some sort of severe trauma, like a rape or molestation victim to be able to have those memories erased, or those of us that have done things that have destroyed the only good thing in our lives and can't seem to get past it...having those memories completely gone would make getting away from the past possible...

Answer 10

Generally, we must be able to get past the pain in order to learn. Strong memories can fuel the pain. We can learn from weak memories, also. Sounds like it would improve the lives of many.