How can I forget about the bad memories of my past?

Forgetting is never the answer. Forgetting bad memories, in my opinion, is a form of running away (someone people may see it as coping). We must always have the courage to face ourselves and our past so we can let them go or else our past would haunt. It is also beneficial for us to accept our history and learn from them. As always, it is easier said than done. However, it is never too late to start tackling the bad memories. So if you are having a hard time with tackling bad memories, just reach out and ask someone for help.

It's generally not a good idea to forget about bad memories of the past. If you haven't healed from a previous experience, forgetting about the experience doesn't relieve the pain. The pain finds another outlet to express itself because it was never properly dealt with. Instead of trying to forget about bad memories, you should work on accepting that bad things occurred. Accepting that something happened doesn't mean you're saying it was right or that it should have happened, it simply accepts reality as it is. Accepting bad memories removes the weight of those memories and allows you to move on from them.

I am not in a position to give specific advice, but creating good memories now is a potential way to distract yourself from bad thoughts and memories. I personally use mediums of expression to take my mind off of negative thoughts, such as drawing, writing, singing, or acting. Reading is also helpful for me when I want to feel immersed into another world. Many people want to forget bad memories, but there may be times when they resurface. You have to remember that those times have come and gone, and new opportunities to create new and better memories are always right now.

I usually turn to writing in times of crisis, whether it is the immediate aftermath of the event, or withing the weeks, months, or sometimes years following. Usually this exercise helps me to reanalyze the event, see how I reacted and how I could have reacted differently, while still acknowledging how I felt and how that has impacted me, the self, as a whole. While this may not work for everyone, considering that one has to be thinking about the event or trauma that is related to the event, it it a way that works for me and that helps me move on.

Live each day as though it was your first. If you find yourself dwelling on the past, remind yourself it's over now, and you can start again. Try to live in the now, and not in the past or future. It helps to stay grounded and talk to yourself like you're a good friend. Keep working at it, and it will pay off. I find that if you catch yourself thinking about the past, it helps to say 'ah, there I go again, maybe I can work this into a good thought about how I learned from my past and it has made me stronger.

This is difficult but try to find a way forward by using other methods. Speak to people who have a genuine interest in your issues and really listen to what they say. At some point something that one of them says will resonate with you and help you take the right path for you given your situation now. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you though so be mindful of that when making your decisions. The more people you talk to, the more options you will be presented with. This puts you in a good position moving forward. If things don’t go as you plan them to you can always try another way. As I said, what works for someone else may not work for you.

Forgetting bad memories of the past is like trying to conceal dust under the carpet: once you remove it for x reasons, you'll going to be amazed by all the dirt accumulated beneath it. Leaving jokes aside, the best way to improve your present time is to learn something from your past: it may be a mistake or a trauma, it can be someone who let you down or something you've lost along the way. Everything came to you to teach you a lesson and make you stronger: this is so liberating once you can embrace this! Try to look at your past without judgment and see it will work wonders!

Give yourself some time, don’t try to push them all away all at once, that’s not going to work. If the bad memories are still affecting you today, it’s probably because you’ve put an absolute end to it. If it’s something that you can solve once and for all, do it. If not, try to talk to somebody about it. The weight is always less heavy when you share it with someone. Also try to sleep early, exercise, and other things to take care of yourself. This way you can shift the focus from that bad memory to your current self. Find something to do, if you have time to think about some memories, it may also mean that you can add something meaningful to your schedule that will take up some time and commitment. Hope this helps :)

The past is in the past, that's what I would say. The past memories cannot be changed, but only accepted. Once you accept them, you can let go and move on from them. Gone days hold no meaning. They're history. You have today, the present. Don't let your past affect your today. You don't have to forget the past memories, you just need to accept them and put them in one distant corner of your mind until they're no more. Focus on other good things and on your future. Life has a lot to offer and I hope it is kind towards you. Good luck x

A person can't really "forget" about bad memories. And "forgive" isn't always an option either. What you can do is make peace with the fact that it happened. First step is to address it and come to terms with the fact that it happened. Bottling up events and swearing to take them to the grave is a grave mistake. Not addressing haunting events will build up stress and anxiety and will only make triggers of the past memories worse. This answer is generic and you must hear it all the time, but talking really helps. Telling the stories of the bad memories aloud for someone hear helps immensely.