Don
03-20-2007, 01:55 PM
We often get people asking if we can use hypnosis to help them forget something in their past.
People here explain that while it could be done it would be unwise. The reason for this is primarily two-fold. First, it would eliminate the lesson learned from the unwanted memory and leave a person open to letting the same type of event happen again. Second, the person's life since the time of the event has been influenced by that event and removing the memory of it would leave major holes in thinking and even personality.
Now, according to an article on ABC news
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2964509&page=1
there may be drugs that can achieve this goal.
The basic concept, as I understand the presentation, is this:
Powerful events that stick in our memory are a combination of the event and an excess of stress hormones, especially adrenaline. That's why we're more likely to remember what we were doing on the September 11 of the attacks on the U.S. than, say, August 11.
According to the scientists quoted, there is a period of time between the event and the retention of the event called "consolidation." If that consolidation period is united with excess adrenaline, the result can be PTSD. However, certain drugs given during the consolidation period can virtually prevent the memory from being retained, thus eliminating the potential PTSD.
More controversial, however, is the concepts of doing this work during "reconsolidation." This is a period much later than the event when recall of the event results in that increased adrenalin flow. This state can be achieved during psychotherapy and, it is believed, certain drugs can be given which literally will break the power of the memory/hormone link, causing the event to be forgotten. This, supporters believe, would end the PTSD.
Personally, I find this entire concept horrendous. It wouldn't get rid of PTSD, just one particular trigger. IMO it would unleash a potential time-bomb, and explosion that could harm the sufferer or those around him or her when some new event combined with stress hormones triggers PTSD again. It would keep the victim in therapy, well, forever.
However, it would allow us to tell people that they could go to a psychiatrist, request therapy to remember the event and all of the emotions associated with it (reconsolidation) and then receive an injection of propranolol which theoretically will cause the memory to vanish.
Comments?
People here explain that while it could be done it would be unwise. The reason for this is primarily two-fold. First, it would eliminate the lesson learned from the unwanted memory and leave a person open to letting the same type of event happen again. Second, the person's life since the time of the event has been influenced by that event and removing the memory of it would leave major holes in thinking and even personality.
Now, according to an article on ABC news
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2964509&page=1
there may be drugs that can achieve this goal.
The basic concept, as I understand the presentation, is this:
Powerful events that stick in our memory are a combination of the event and an excess of stress hormones, especially adrenaline. That's why we're more likely to remember what we were doing on the September 11 of the attacks on the U.S. than, say, August 11.
According to the scientists quoted, there is a period of time between the event and the retention of the event called "consolidation." If that consolidation period is united with excess adrenaline, the result can be PTSD. However, certain drugs given during the consolidation period can virtually prevent the memory from being retained, thus eliminating the potential PTSD.
More controversial, however, is the concepts of doing this work during "reconsolidation." This is a period much later than the event when recall of the event results in that increased adrenalin flow. This state can be achieved during psychotherapy and, it is believed, certain drugs can be given which literally will break the power of the memory/hormone link, causing the event to be forgotten. This, supporters believe, would end the PTSD.
Personally, I find this entire concept horrendous. It wouldn't get rid of PTSD, just one particular trigger. IMO it would unleash a potential time-bomb, and explosion that could harm the sufferer or those around him or her when some new event combined with stress hormones triggers PTSD again. It would keep the victim in therapy, well, forever.
However, it would allow us to tell people that they could go to a psychiatrist, request therapy to remember the event and all of the emotions associated with it (reconsolidation) and then receive an injection of propranolol which theoretically will cause the memory to vanish.
Comments?