question 3 for Leaving Time

[Ian]

Do you agree with the statement from the book" Negative moments get remembered. Traumatic ones get forgotten."?

[April]

I think it depends on the person, the trauma and the seriousness. I do think in really bad situations the brain blocks some memories as a form of protection and sometimes it just allows you to deal with it and learn and move on. But I don't think anything good or bad is truly forgotten. You may not remember details but you will be forever change good or bad even if you don't realize why.

[Paola]

Just as April said, sometimes the memories of traumas are really blocked by the brain in order to protect ourselves, but I think that, in most cases, we just pretend they never happened by trying to avoid thinking about them, and move on. But it doesn't mean they are totally forgotten.

[Debby]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I still remember traumatic moments - the intensity is not the same - unless there is a specific trigger, but I do remember.
Physical pain, like during childbirth, fortunately cannot be exactly remembered, but I think the fear of the pain is.