[watevs]

i want to know, these feelings of despair, can't we just erase it? i mean is it possible to erase a memory or a feeling just by losing memory, get hypnotized or something without facing any risk. or is it a pathetic escape?

[Hope-Full]

Wow, that would sure be nice, wouldn't it? I'd love to be able to drop the memories forever, I think I'd be happier? Then again, as it is, there are still many repressed memories, and as I uncover them, it is filling in holes in my history. Filling those holes, as painful as it is, is actually helpful too. I don't think it's a pathetic escape, we've got a lot on our shoulders when dealing with depression, and it is only normal to want some relief!

Originally Posted by watevs

i want to know, these feelings of despair, can't we just erase it? i mean is it possible to erase a memory or a feeling just by losing memory, get hypnotized or something without facing any risk. or is it a pathetic escape?

as nice as that might be, unfortunately you can't... the only way is suicide, and that's permanent

[watevs]

suicide is never an option!

[IceCreamKid]

I can't say I have forgotten the horrible things that used to upset me. But they don't upset me anymore, even though I remember my upset from the time they were occurring. If you are bothered by bad memories, you can reach a faster resolution of them with a good therapist or counselor. Meditation is a good way to relax over all, which helps to improve mood.

[Idiot17]

suicide is always an option

[watevs]

if i had suicide as an option i wouldn't like to forget i would end it. so it is not!

Originally Posted by watevs

suicide is never an option!

Wrong. Option.



-Fleeing Bellocq,Muse of theMission District

[watevs]

probably. but it is not an option for me at least.

Originally Posted by watevs

probably. but it is not an option for me at least.

I am sincerely glad that you do not feel suicide is an option for you. I am certain that even though you, at this time, carry the weight of your worries and woes upon your back, the fact that you would think to create a pseudo-hypothesis, that had a semi-developed, fully-discussable argument attached to your query, is a good sign that you are proactive in your quest for windmills and wind chimes (peaceful little things).

In addition, I have no doubt, that you have an entire loving support system in place to aid you in your recovery. I can hear you, your voice comes quite clear to me, through your writing. You are calm, yet strong of mind and character. self-possessed with your views of right and wrong and do not seem the type to be persuaded to change an opinion, once formed, in the area of 'social issues.'

I will end as I have never before. Good-bye, waters. It is quite clear to me,

You are not long for this place,

-Fleeing Bellocq, Muse of the Mission District

[watevs]

i don't want my life to end before i realize what i want, but there are some thoughts which are holding me back and distracting me . that's my weakness, i want to forget but i couldnt! i am not patient!!

[BillieJean00]

Trying to fight the emotions inside you would be a losing battle. They are a current part of who you are. Never think that makes you weak it just gives you an obstacle. That feeling of despair can seem overwhelming, but don't give power to the emotion by believing its where you are stuck. Face the pain and fill the emptiness feeling with positivity and hope.

[carebirdy]

Originally Posted by watevs

i want to know, these feelings of despair, can't we just erase it? i mean is it possible to erase a memory or a feeling just by losing memory, get hypnotized or something without facing any risk. or is it a pathetic escape?

If you feel your depression maybe caused by some sort of trauma EMDR is worth a try. It has some good data to back it up.

[BillieJean00]

I had EMDR when I was younger. It helped me more with redirecting my thoughts verses erasing them. Bringing me to my "happy place" when my mind drifted. But as I got older I realized it meant that every once in a while my mind still did go back to those dark places. Its not fail safe.... though can be helpful

[RJ78]

I often wonder the same thing...how to get rid of thoughts, in some cases memories, that bring about so much pain on a day-to-day basis. I have felt deep despair more than I thought possible before I had my first bout with depression and anxiety.

I went to my first depression support group last night and someone told me that any progress we can expect will take patience and will happen in incremental steps. I've been carrying that thought with me all day, mostly because the very idea of progress sometimes feels foreign to me. But I don't feel despair every day. Or at least I don't feel that way right now.

Suicide is always an option, the question is...is it the good option? Sometimes, It can be...but other times, it's not worth it.

[watevs]

suicide means that you'll put an end to everything not just the problem!

[CgRgSm]

There is no good/bad, right/wrong option, and neither is there really an "option" at all, since "option" would infer that we as humans have some sort of "choice" or "free will". It is my thinking that these things are illusions, nothing more. Everything that happens just happens. One thing leads to another, which leads to another, no one really chooses to do anything.

But anyway, to answer the original question, I don't think you can erase your thoughts/feelings through hypnotism or other means. I haven't tried it, but I really doubt it could work. There are so many things about the human brain that we don't understand, there are probably thoughts embedded within thoughts that would still give you such feelings even if you somehow could "erase" them, I think it just becomes a part of who we are for the rest of our lives.

I feel like no, I can't clean this slate, I feel stuck and hopeless. Life sucks and I cannot understand anyone who can say "Life is Good".

[Shadow-world]

I really don't think that erasing certain memories is possible during our lives either unless we develop dementia (certainly undesired) and even then there might be flash-backs.

I think it's about working through the memories and events that cause us so much pain that will hopefully help. I am interested in what some of the others said above about EMDR work, as this has been suggested to me by my therapist too as an option to work through traumatic events of the past that had led to depression and anxiety.
I haven't done it yet, but will probably start with it soon. Maybe you could consider this as well. Or other ways and approaches in therapy?