The neuropsychologist spoke about the mechanism of memory displacement

The brain actively uses defense mechanisms, such as expelling negative memories, to help us survive stress and pain. Maria Todorova, a child and family psychologist, child development consultant, and neuropsychologist, told Izvestia on September 30 about how this process works and how it affects the human psyche in the long term.

"Our brains are designed to help us survive not only physically, but also emotionally. In a situation of severe stress or pain, it can activate protective mechanisms, including the repression of memories. This is not an accident or a malfunction, but a special mental strategy that allows you to survive a difficult event without completely destroying a person's inner world," Todorova said.

One of the main areas of the brain involved in emotion processing is the hippocampus and amygdala. The amygdala instantly records intense emotions such as fear and pain, while the hippocampus is responsible for storing and organizing memories. When stress becomes too much for the body, the hippocampus can "shut down" and the memory of the event is not fully preserved or it becomes fragmented. This may be a kind of protective reaction of the brain, which decides that excessive information can only increase pain and overload a person.

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This mechanism is especially evident in children. Due to the immaturity of the nervous system, children cannot process strong emotions on their own. In such cases, the psyche uses protective repression — painful experiences fade into the background, and the child continues his life. An important aspect in this process is the role of a caring adult. According to Neufeld's theory of attachment, a child needs to have support in the form of an adult in order to survive difficult moments and restore a sense of security. If an adult supports a child, repression becomes a temporary defense rather than a chronic way of avoiding it.

"In the long run, constantly suppressing or forgetting negative memories can turn into problems. When emotions do not find an outlet and are not comprehended, they accumulate and begin to affect mental health.: This can manifest itself in anxiety, outbursts of aggression, or, conversely, emotional numbness," Todorova said.

As the neuropsychologist concluded, excessive repression does sometimes harm cognitive functions: a person concentrates worse, loses the ability to connect events into a holistic picture of his life.

On August 9, Dmitry Karpenko, Associate Professor of the Department of Polyclinic Therapy at the Institute of Clinical Medicine at Pirogov University, spoke about the differences between a panic attack and a heart attack. A panic attack usually develops without external influence. It may be accompanied by dizziness and a feeling of lack of air. During a heart attack, pain in the heart is pressing, compressing, behind the sternum, accompanied by shortness of breath, increased or decreased pulse rate and heart failure.

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