A Meditation Series

When a frightening or traumatic event occurs, the brain releases a surge of adrenaline, activating the amygdala, which plays a key role in processing emotions, particularly fear. This heightened state of arousal strengthens the encoding of the memory, making the event vivid and difficult to forget. The hippocampus, responsible for organising and contextualising memories, works alongside the amygdala but can be overwhelmed by extreme stress, sometimes leading to fragmented or hyper-detailed recollections. This mechanism is an evolutionary adaptation designed to enhance survival—by making negative experiences more accessible, the brain helps us recognise and avoid similar dangers in the future. Positive memories, on the other hand, tend to be processed with less urgency and emotional intensity, often fading more quickly since they do not serve the same immediate protective function. This is why traumatic or distressing memories are more deeply embedded and easier to recall than positive ones.

An antidote to this heightened recall of negative memories is practising mindfulness and staying present in the moment. Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, and grounding exercises help re-engage the prefrontal cortex, allowing the brain to regulate emotional responses more effectively. By focusing on current sensations and experiences rather than being overwhelmed by past fears, we can create new, positive associations that gradually weaken the grip of traumatic memories. Over time, this practice helps rewire the brain, fostering a sense of safety and reducing the automatic recall of distressing events.