It is a feature of depression and depressive states to focus on past negative memories, and to ruminate about them (e.g., to go over them again and again). Several conditions can contribute to the intrusion of negative memories into the present. Negative memories are going to be more common to experience when you have had negative past experiences. Also, past memories may be positive or negative in quality in the typical case, whereas yours are negative, mostly. Typically, however, such experiences of past memories are rather fleeting and do not interfere with the experience of the present too much. It is part of the human condition to experience the past in the present, in the form of memories.

I’d say it has become necessary when this issue starts interfering with your ability to live your life (e.g., maintain your social relationships, and function at work). It wouldn’t hurt you to seek out a diagnosis and psychotherapy or medication as appropriate at this point, but it may not be necessary either. This sort of thing is not typical of normal thought, but neither is it so out of the norm that you necessarily need to be concerned. Do not stop your medication or change the dose of your medication without first consulting with your physician. Always consult with your psychotherapist, physician, or psychiatrist first before changing any aspect of your treatment regimen.Dombeck and Mental Help Net disclaim any and all merchantability or warranty of fitness for a particular purpose or liability in connection with the use or misuse of this service.

Dombeck, Mental Help Net and CenterSite, LLC make no warranties, express or implied, about the information presented in this column. No ongoing relationship of any sort (including but not limited to any form of professional relationship) is implied or offered by Dr.Questions submitted to this column are not guaranteed to receive responses.Dombeck intends his responses to provide general educational information to the readership of this website answers should not be understood to be specific advice intended for any particular individual(s). Dombeck responds to questions about psychotherapy and mental health problems, from the perspective of his training in clinical psychology.

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