A pill to block out the bad memories:

[DearAbby]

Experts make breakthrough to help people forget traumatic past events


There are some things everyone would rather forget – and scientists believe they may be able to help us do just that, with a pill that would block out painful memories.

In a medical breakthrough, researchers have discovered that proteins can be removed from the brain’s fear centre to wipe out traumatic memories.

Their findings could be of benefit to soldiers who have experienced distressing events and victims of violence. They could even help us get over the hurt of a painful break-up.

The U.S. research has parallels to the plot of the science fiction film Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, which starred Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey.

In the 2004 film, a couple’s past is wiped in a fictional procedure called ‘targeted
memory erasure’. For the U.S. study, scientists at Johns Hopkins University used rats to try to focus on the part of the brain that copes with fear.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1332181/Experts-make-breakthrough-help-people-forget-traumatic-past-events.html#ixzz167gof699


Would you consider this? What if they are already using it, in our water supply...that could explain how people forget the past and re elect Republicans eh? :tinfoilhat:

[derby378]

1. I'm nervous about the use of amnesiacs in medicine

I am, however, encouraged by the use of drugs such as MDMA being used in experimental studies to treat or even cure PTSD, which sounds like a major component of some of the more painful memories.

[Fleshdancer]

2. I find this concept both scary and compassionate

"Scary" was my first reaction, but I think it's normal when reading about brain altering medical breakthroughs. My bleeding heart loves the idea of taking away trauma, pain, and emotional scars. I also wonder if this would decrease substance addiction and abuse cycles.

[Jim__]

3. Consider it? Sure. Actually use it - I don't know.

If we lose the painful memories, do we lose any potential learning that went along with them? I'd prefer to lose the traumatic aspect of the memory, but retain both it and any lessons learned.

[Jackpine Radical]

11. There are existing, nonpharmacological ways of doing exactly that.

Unfortunately, they involve individual psychotherapy with clinicians well-trained in procedures like EMDR and alpha-theta neurotherapy.

Insurance basically doesn't like to pay for any mental health treatment that doesn't come in a pill.

[Jim__]

19. I didn't know that - thanks.

[chemp]

4. Sounds more like the movie "Brain Candy"

It's a pill that give diarrhea to ex-girlfriends.

It makes it always 70 degrees in your head, chemically.

Kids in the Hall were always ahead of the curve.

[Pathwalker]

5. It would have to be strong enough to wipe out my entire childhood.

Although, I would like to forget my fundy cousin's latest "Obama is a secret Muslim socialist who's going to single handedly wipe out the entire constitution and put all us good KKKristians in concentration camps" tirade all because I had the audacity to call her about their evil, nefarious plan to steal my just deceased brother's ashes. THAT, I'd love to forget.

[kenny blankenship]

6. Every technological "advance" which has been touted to make war less traumatic

has in fact served to make war more common. The smart bombs and body armor that are supposed to reduce civilian casualties and lessen our military casualties have only made war seem more appealing as a policy option to the criminal minds we call our leaders. These technologies are expensive but they lower the perceived cost of warfare in the reckoning of leaders and the masses. In this way, they prolong our killing sprees and make starting new ones look more attractive. This "advance" would be no different and in fact could be worse than all the others. Americans don't feel much remorse for the effects of our bombs and bullets on foreign peoples, but we do feel sorry for ourselves. We could regret the loss of American lives and regret the pain and suffering of the veterans of war, who occasionally make the papers by killing themselves. So long as we felt guilty about the shattered lives of young men whom we sent to Vietnam, we felt inhibited from beginning new wars. A pill like this one, designed to burn out the bad memories of veterans, would remove much of that inhibition and free us from future guilt from future wars. Even without it, war has become a nearly permanent fixture in our lives. We've become so accustomed to war we've nearly forgotten we're still fighting two of them - we haven't forgotten but we just don't think about it much. A pill like this, which is exactly the kind of medicine the warfare state would order up, would make that forgetting literal.

[leveymg]

7. Just add water. They've already tested it. Ask KSM and Abu Zubaydeh.

KSM before, during, and after his "treatments".

[ipaint]

8. Oh good we can all have "beautiful minds" now. nt.

[Toucano]

12. Eternal sunshine and spotless minds, more like. n/t

[Lisa D]

9. This could be a big help

for people who are unable to function due to traumatic events from their past. Some may not have to take it long-term--if it provides temporary relief long enough to help them get their lives back on track.

[johnaries]

10. "Damn it Bones, you're a doctor.

You know that pain and guilt can't be taken away with the wave of a magic wand. They're the things we carry with us, the things that make us who we are. If we lose them, we lose ourselves. I don't want my pain taken away! I need my pain!"

- Star Trek V

OTOH, if it can help our vets with PTSD, then it's worth pursuing.

[Toucano]

13. Have they stopped making gin?

Why was I not informed?

[Kennah]

14. Why is the rum gone?

[EFerrari]

20. LOL

[alfredo]

23. Vodka works too, though I am partial to juniper berries.

[Swamp Rat]

15. Jesus loves you THX 1138. Take your pills and go to a prayer booth now.

[Javaman]

16. Is this how the repukes plan on winning? nt

[Mimosa]

17. The potential for abuse by authorities, intel agencies and the military is scary. n/t

[OneGrassRoot]

18. That was the gist of a "Boston Legal" episode several years ago. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

21. Do they have one to block out commercials?

[alfredo]

24. Yes, it is called Mutebuttonol.

[TheWatcher]

22. This Will End Well.

Now The Criminals who run everything will be able to rape, murder, loot, rob, steal, racketeer, extort, and commit every crime and atrocity to their hearts desire, and YOU WON'T REMEMBER A THING.

A Scientific Dictatorship in the Making.

Orwell, Huxley, and Bradbury would be beyond impressed.

[adigal]

25. No, I would NEVER use it

My good experiences and my traumas are what makes me who I am - I am compassionate because I have suffered, as we all have. To wipe that out is to dishonor my experience.

Also, this is a GREAT way to control society. Drug us up and out some more, and we will be more and more compliant and happy over nothing.

[Hello_Kitty]

26. I dunno, isn't a sense of fear kinda necessary to self-preservation?

:shrug:

[Lucian]

27. I wouldn't because you don't know for sure what other memories you'd lose.

I wouldn't trust it.