Traumatic memories can be erased from the brain!

Scientists have shown the memories that causes trauma can be erased from the brain. This has been shown through laboratory tests on mice and consisted of enabling or disabling "black" memories with a sound accompanied by a wave of electric shock. Even if testing this process on people entails a complex ethical implications, scientists believe that this will be possible in the future, as it can help people who suffer from a disorder such as post-traumatic stress or drug addicts.

Just as the body goes into shock after a physical trauma, so does the human psyche go into shock after the impact of a major loss. - Anne Grant - Source

Professor Sheena Josselyn, one of the authors of the study, explained that during the tests could be identified in cells that were stored some memories. She explained:

We were able to target these cells and make the memories go away. I decreased the activity in these cells and this is equivalent to the disappearance of unwanted memory.

After this procedure, the mice no longer responded to the sound that had learned to associate to it suffered shock. Scientists claim to have achieved thus proof that if there is a problem with the memories of a person should not be worked on throughout the entire body or brain. They believe that in the future, drugs could be created to seek and detect heat, drugs that work only in the affected cells.

However, up to this moment it is a long way, given that the ethical principles say that a man is the sum of his all memories, and that we all learn from our mistakes. However, in extreme cases, if this is affecting everyday life, this treatment could be a solution. For example, using the intervention in cells affected, among mice, it was possible the removing of the cocaine addiction.

The memories are stored in what is known as the engram,  made up of neurons that are burning in a distinct manner. When something happens, neurons are fighting one another to turn that thing into a memory and a store on the latter.

My short opinion

I find this very impressive and I can't wait that the time when people will start doing something more than just tests on mice. Plus, I'm curious to see how this test will be accepted by the big drug companies that control everything.

How can we become stronger after an emotional trauma!

A trauma it can knelt us for a while, but if we can overcome, we can become invincible, at least this is what experts say. When we talk about a "trauma", we referring to an intensely event in a person's life, that it exceeds the limits, or the possibilities of adaptation. Anca Kosina, a psychotherapist, explains how we can know success after such an experience.

Trauma is characterized by those excitations exceeding the threshold of tolerance of a subject, an event or a situation where the defense reflex is insufficient. Depending on the factors that is determining it, trauma can be physical or psychological  (an intense emotion that causes a permanent change of personality, translated by raising the subsequent emotions).Trauma disrupt psychic life, generating sustainable pathogenic effects, unless action is taken to recovery. Usually a physical trauma is accompanied by a mental one.

Following the traumatic event, it seems that we lose something in us, and a break is created inside us, but people rarely reveals trauma, most often being made visible the effects that it has on everyone's life.

A trauma can affect a person emotionally, physically, cognitive, behavioral and relational. Anxiety, phobias, exaggerated feelings of fear, guilt, shame, helplessness, panic attacks may be signs that an event where someone was involved or who has been exposed to traumatic mark on him. Emotional symptoms are often accompanied by physical manifestations of the effects of trauma: loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, decreased energy levels and sexual dysfunction.

The shock of any trauma, I think changes your life. It's more acute in the beginning and after a little time you settle back to what you were. However it leaves an indelible mark on your psyche. - Alex Lifeson - Source

My opinion on this is:

I believe is true that any trauma can put on his knees one person, but then, when he rises, that person have a new skill, he is more prepared to face an unpredictable world, plus is more flexible in a confrontation with the 'unknown'. He develops some confidence in the future. 

Is more like hey, I survived now! So, he is able to face a difficult situation. I think that passing through a painful and difficult experience has also social consequences. Thus, if a person considers that the aid involved was really supportive, can heighten the sense of security in these relationships.

Whether we like it or not, whether we accept it or not, we will not be able to avoid the consequences of our personal choices. But it is important to learn from what we live, and feel that we evolve with every step that we make in our lives. This will make us stronger and will create a better version of ourselves.

References and images credits: 1, 2