The therapist called the consequences of constant "chewing" of memories

The constant return to painful memories can negatively affect not only your emotional state, but also your physical health. Irina Krashkina, a psychotherapist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), Candidate of Medical Sciences, told Izvestia on July 6 about why a person gets "stuck" in the past, what is the danger of endless scrolling of negative events and how to learn to live in the present.

According to the expert, memories play an important role in a person's life: they help to keep in touch with the past, draw conclusions from their own experience and form a personality. However, sometimes past events start to take up too much space in your thoughts. A person returns over and over to the mistakes, conflicts or losses they have experienced, trying to find an explanation for what happened or mentally change the outcome of the situation.

"A similar tendency is associated with the peculiarities of the brain, which tends to complete unfinished situations. If memories turn into constant mental "chewing," this gradually increases anxiety, worsens mood, and reduces the ability to concentrate on work, school, and daily chores," Krashkina explained.

Prolonged emotional stress also affects physical well-being. Chronic stress can disrupt sleep, provoke insomnia, affect appetite, cause fatigue, headaches, muscle tension and emotional exhaustion. Although the memories themselves do not cause diseases, the constant psychological stress creates an additional burden on the body.

To get out of the vicious circle of negative thoughts, the therapist recommends gradually shifting attention from the past to the present. Mindfulness techniques, physical activity, keeping a personal diary, and the habit of asking yourself, "Can I change something now?" help with this. If the answer is no, it's better to focus on what's really under your own control.

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The specialist pays special attention to the topic of forgiveness. According to Krashkina, forgiving a person does not mean justifying his actions or forgetting the pain caused. Rather, it's about an inner decision to stop letting the past define the present. Even if a conversation with a person is impossible, such work can be done independently or together with a psychologist.

The expert also advises against constantly comparing real life with "better times." Memory often idealizes the past, leaving unpleasant events behind the scenes. To avoid this, it is useful to pay attention to everyday joys, set new goals, keep in touch with loved ones and develop your interests. This approach helps to strengthen a sense of life satisfaction and reduce the impact of negative memories.

If thoughts about the past are accompanied by severe anxiety, feelings of hopelessness, depressive mood, interfere with work, study or build relationships, and independent attempts to cope do not help, the doctor recommends seeking professional help. A specialist will help you understand the causes of what is happening, find effective ways to deal with stress and regain a sense of control over your own life.

According to the therapist, it is impossible to change the past, but a person is able to change his attitude towards it. This is what allows you to free yourself from difficult experiences, focus on the present and make plans for the future.

In June, scientists at Lingnan University (Hong Kong) concluded that people in a depressed mood more accurately assess their own abilities and cope better with complex analytical tasks, but they understand the emotions and behavior of others worse. The meta-analysis includes psychological and clinical studies published from 1971 to November 2025: collectively, they cover data from 32,914 participants.