Post traumatic stress disorder is something no one should have to live with, and if a new memory-erasing pill comes to market, perhaps no one will have to. These pills are based on the effects of already existing blood pressure pills.
For whatever reason, research has proven that the human mind tends to hold onto bad memories more easily than good, which can deeply damage our psychology. Imagine the trust and confidence you could gain back if you could only forget about those painful past experiences.
"Studies in animal models have shown that fearful memories sometimes change when recalled, a process known as reconsolidation, and that this reconsolidation stage is vulnerable to the blood pressure drugs, called beta-adrenergic receptor blockers," LiveScience.com says.
Obviously this has raised ethical debates too; afterall, it's our experiences that shape us. Would this not then open up the doorway to all sorts of different brainwashing techniques? And if so, how far would we allow that door to open?
Professor John Harris also points out that "Criminals and witnesses to crime may, under the guise of erasing a painful memory, render themselves unable to give evidence."
LiveScience talks about an alternative way to lessen painful memories by repetitiously pushing those thoughts aside. As an advocate of natural medicine, I'd opt for that method.
Bad Memory Erasers
In The Future, Popping A Pill Could Wipe Out a Painful Past Forever
Trend Themes
1. Memory-erasing Pills - The development of memory-erasing pills can disrupt the pharmaceutical industry, providing opportunities to develop new drugs for mental health disorders.
2. Reconsolidation-based Therapies - Advancing research on reconsolidation can lead to the development of new therapies for PTSD and other mental health conditions, transforming the healthcare industry.
3. Natural Memory-suppressing Techniques - Development and adoption of natural techniques, such as pushing bad memories aside, can disrupt the wellness industry by reducing reliance on pharmaceutical drugs.
Industry Implications
1. Pharmaceutical - The pharmaceutical industry can leverage the development of memory-erasing pills to create new drugs for mental health disorders.
2. Healthcare - Advancing research on reconsolidation can lead to the development of new therapies, transforming the healthcare industry and providing new treatments for PTSD.
3. Wellness - The development and adoption of natural memory-suppressing techniques can disrupt the wellness industry and reduce reliance on pharmaceutical drugs.