Why are we so
protective of our memories? Even bad memories.
If your appendix
gets infected, you’ll have it removed.
So why are we
reluctant to do the same with our memories? Why do we cling to memories ruining
our lives? We don’t really know if the
memory is even true. Our brains have been proven to be highly faulty?
Humans, ALL
humans, are terrible recorders of facts. There is massive evidence proving
this. Much of what you remember isn’t accurate the day you experience it. Keep
recalling the event and it will become less and less accurate. So when a memory
is ruining your life, why do you cling to it? There are many ways to remove it.
Here’s a core
fact: Memories are NOT fixed or chiseled in stone. They can and do change every
time you recall them.
And when a
memory is destroying your life, there are many ways to change it. Here are a
few:
1) Drugs: If
propranolol (a drug to lower your blood pressure) is administered before
recalling the event, then when the memory is restored by the brain, it is often
a milder, less frightening version. Use
of Anesthetic gas Xenon: If applied at exactly the right moment, it can strip
away the negative feelings associated with a memory.
2) Memory
reconsolidation: The easiest time to change a memory is when it is active. In my book I have Sam alter his memories with
the use of a ‘better outcome’ computer generated video of the event he went
through. He’s told it is the cumulative scenario from the other soldiers in his
unit. While it seems to heal him in one view, that night, his prior memories
fought back making things worse than ever. But upon seeing the video again and
receiving a CD of the event to watch whenever he questions the ‘truth’, he
finally retakes control of his life.
3)Optogenetics: Simple explanation: while the trauma is
triggered, the parts of the brain that light up are identified and particles
are attached to them. Then with a laser, neurosurgeons turn the memories off.
They are not destroyed and can be turned on at a later time. In my book, Sam
considers joining the small clinical trial to be run on humans, until he
realize that the only way to get to the hippocampus is to cut a hole in his
skull. That convinced him to choose the video option instead.
According to
stats, over 14 million American’s suffer from PTSD and the count could be much
higher, since a great deal of people suffer from trauma (real or imagined) that
do not meet the criteria to be classified as PTSD, but still their trauma
diminishes their lives on a daily basis.
Once someone
proved how easy it was to alter a memory, all sorts of new options started
popping up. Some psychiatrists object to the new methods, but honestly, if you
can remove your pain without drugs, having you skull opened, or spending years
in therapy along with a drug regiment why wouldn’t you at least give it a try?
The Hardest Love
A Long Road to Love Series
By Liza O’Connor
BLURB
THE
HARDEST LOVE IS TO LOVE YOURSELF.
Sam Lancaster is a
lost man. Since returning from the war in Iraq, his life has been spiraling out
of control. Attempting to escape his troubles, first he moves to a small town
of Denton, Iowa, where he becomes the sheriff and beats up the local trouble.
When that ceases to work, he seeks peace at a Vermont hunting lodge, where he
gets arrested for shooting fish rather than throwing them a line. After
spending five months in a work camp to pay for his many crimes, he gets out
only to discover Carrie is in danger—again.
Convinced he’s the only one who can keep the little Pint Size safe, he rushes
back to NYC.
During
his absence, Mars has turned the Lancaster estate into a sanctuary for injured
vets. Sam agrees to take a test that proves he has Swiss cheese memories that
are inaccurate and dangerous. Even knowing this, his PTSD continues to worsen.
While he’s deemed to be a poor candidate for a new method of self-correction, his
many friends will try anything to save him.
When
danger shows up at the Sanctuary, Mars gives him a mission to evaluate the potential
threat from certain staff members. On top of his list is Sam’s new girlfriend.
Figures!
EXCERPT
“Well, if you
want cheered up on my days off, I’d be glad to kick the hell out of your
demons.”
Aggie’s comment
brought Sam to a halt. No way would Mars share his history with his new staff.
So who did? Carlos?
A second later,
Aggie pulled up and returned to him. After an intense stare down, as if she were
reading his mind, she ruffed up his hair, which had probably been pre-ruffled since
he forgot to brush it before leaving. “I was offering to spar with you.”
That wasn’t
happening. “Sorry, there are only a few people I can safely spar with. I would
never risk hurting someone already debilitated with the name of Agnes.”
He couldn’t wait
to see how she took his refusal. Inexplicably, he hit the floor hard a second
later and her foot pressed on his neck.
“Easy!” he
yelled. She gleamed with pride at her achievement, which had been nothing more
than a lucky, underhanded blow.
When she removed
her foot and reached down to help him up, he grabbed her hand, intending to
flip her onto her back so she could appreciate how hard the floor was. Incredibly
she managed to deflect his every move. Finally, by feigning a move which
required her to respond by shifting her balance, he yanked her down onto his
chest.
She laughed.
“You are too good not to realize that was a bonehead move if I wanted to kill
you. So, I’m thinking you’re tired of sparring and wish to try something else.”
Her gorgeous
smile hovered inches above him. Her strong body pressed against his. Feeling a
need to possess her, he gripped the back of her head and brought her lips to
his as he rolled her over, so he was on top.
Just as his
brain was about to overheat from one of the finest kisses he could recall, a
familiar throat clearing doused his fire. He broke away and helped her up
before facing Mars. “This was totally my doing. I knocked her off her feet and
kissed her.”
After a stern
glare at Sam,
Mars turned to Aggie. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she
said, all the while smiling.
“Do you want to
press charges?”
She stared up at
the ceiling, considering the matter. “I’m off duty today and tomorrow. Can we
have Sam
confined to my quarters?”
BUY
LINKS
Released May 5, 2015
A Long Road to Love
The
Hardest Love
Book Five
Other books in the A
Long Road to Love series
Book One
Worst Week Ever
“Love this book and
couldn't stop laughing from beginning to end.” 5 stars – Alves - Amazon
Book Two
Oh Stupid Heart
“Be warned though, this
book is completely different from The Worst Week Ever. Yes, there is still
humor, dry wit, situations that you would think...NOT AGAIN but this one
humanizes Trent more.” 5 stars - Brian’s Mom – Amazon
Book Three
Coming to Reason
Once again, Ms. O’Connor has written a brilliant
book about the complexities of relationships, good and bad. Again, to me, the
book is the best break up book EVER and it left my heart singing in the end.
Best.Book.Ever…
Book Four
Climbing out of Hell
“In typical @Liza0Connor fashion, crazy things happen which make
you laugh outloud.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Liza O’Connor
Liza lives in Denville, NJ with her dog
Jess. They hike in fabulous woods every day, rain or shine, sleet or snow.
Having an adventurous nature, she learned to fly small Cessnas in NJ,
hang-glide in New Zealand, kayak in Pennsylvania, ski in New York, scuba dive
with great white sharks in Australia, dig up dinosaur bones in Montana, sky
dive in Indiana, and raft a class four river in Tasmania. She’s an avid
gardener, amateur photographer, and dabbler in watercolors and graphic arts.
Yet through her entire life, her first love has and always will be writing
novels. She loves to create interesting characters, set them loose, and scribe
what happens.
FOR
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
LIZA O'CONNOR & UPCOMING BOOKS:
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