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What Causes Constant Disturbing Images And Memories In Mind?
Question: I am asking for advice on how to stop disturbing images and memories from constantly replaying in my brain. I can usually distract myself by having a conversation with myself in my head in a foreign language but sometimes I just get too many triggers that will instantly bring my brain to an event or times in my life that like a lot of people would like to forget. It could be a smell or some real simple thing that will set my brain going. I have been blessed with a very good memory, I used to win competitions at school, but this recall makes it very hard to drop things as I remember minute details about things. I have had extensive counselling and actually work in a age care facility in DT work but I still have trouble with my own mental health. I need to be able to somehow block these images from getting into my head or somehow think about something else. Try to imagine watching an autopsy and remembering every detail of it as it runs as a video in your head and then try to cut up some meat for dinner and having parts of that autopsy play in your head while you are trying to make the evening meal. The sound of the knife going through the flesh, the tear of sinew and muscle. I am asking you, as a doctor, how do you stop these images interfering in your everyday life?
Brief Answer:
try to follow the steps as detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
These are a sort of intruding images and memories which are constantly disturbing you.
I have some suggestions for you which might help you.
Try to follow these steps:
1. Label these images as "intrusive images."
2. Remind yourself that these images come automatically in your mind and you can safely ignore them.
3. Accept and allow these into your mind. Do not try to push them away. The more you try to push them away, the more these will intrude you.
4. Breathe diaphragmatically until your apprehension starts to go down.
5. Continue whatever you were doing prior to the intrusive thought.
Do Not try to:
1. Engage the thoughts in any way as you do by having the conversation with yourself.
2. Push the thoughts out of your mind.
3. Try to figure out what your thoughts "mean."
4. Convince yourself that these are images of past and not significant.
Try to:
1. Label your apprehension levels due to images and watch it go up and down.
2. Allow the thoughts to remain without hindrance. (They will go away on their own).
3. Focus on managing your apprehension in the present. Diaphragmatic breathing is especially helpful.
I understand that these suggestions can be difficult to follow initially.
But with constant trials, you should be able to deal with these intruding images.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
try to follow the steps as detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.
I can understand your concerns.
These are a sort of intruding images and memories which are constantly disturbing you.
I have some suggestions for you which might help you.
Try to follow these steps:
1. Label these images as "intrusive images."
2. Remind yourself that these images come automatically in your mind and you can safely ignore them.
3. Accept and allow these into your mind. Do not try to push them away. The more you try to push them away, the more these will intrude you.
4. Breathe diaphragmatically until your apprehension starts to go down.
5. Continue whatever you were doing prior to the intrusive thought.
Do Not try to:
1. Engage the thoughts in any way as you do by having the conversation with yourself.
2. Push the thoughts out of your mind.
3. Try to figure out what your thoughts "mean."
4. Convince yourself that these are images of past and not significant.
Try to:
1. Label your apprehension levels due to images and watch it go up and down.
2. Allow the thoughts to remain without hindrance. (They will go away on their own).
3. Focus on managing your apprehension in the present. Diaphragmatic breathing is especially helpful.
I understand that these suggestions can be difficult to follow initially.
But with constant trials, you should be able to deal with these intruding images.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask further.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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