I swear everytime I’m minding my business here goes a cringy memory from way back. I get so turned off and embarrassed it ALMOST ruins my day. Not to mention I worry whether or not someone else is thinking the same thing. I can’t be the only one. Help a formerly cringe person out. PLEASE!
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own up to them… those memories is what makes you the way you are
Learning how to forgive, ourselves and others, is one of the most important tasks humans have to learn to do. And by task I mean constantly and consistently correcting your thoughts to be kind and compassionate instead of negative and judgmental. I’m in my 7th decade but still in middle school on this topic.
It’s going to happen. But time heals and memories fade. In the meantime, you will learn not to let it be a distraction from your life. Study stoicism. I think it helps those who are naturally anxious. Let logic be your guide to why those anxious feelings shouldn’t ruin your life.
I try to remember any embarrassing moments from other people’s life’s and I can’t think of any, meaning no one remembers mine either. Because everyone is living in there own little world
I think about how small I am in this massive universe
It’s easier said than done, but realizing none of it matters is key.
I try to change the subject in my brain when they feel cringy, but I am working on letting them go when I can stand to think about them.
This is a tough one! What you can do is validate yourself that you are not the same person you were back then, and that everyone changes over time. As for the memory itself, if it’s traumatic, maybe talk to a therapist. I’ve done lots of therapy, and I still get pretty bothered by some of those cringey moments randomly. Yes, I cringe, but I try to turn my mind to what I have succeeded in since then, and try to let the emotion and thought drift by. It’s really important to be gentle with yourself and not beat yourself up for that incident. (Ofc easier said than done)
Edit: something that may be helpful… look into ‘ pedulation therapy ‘. It’s technique to address traumatic experiences. It’s sort of like mental exposure therapy.
You’re not alone on this, my brain loves to hit me with a greatest hits cringe reel right when I’m finally at peace 😩 What helps me is reminding myself that most people are too busy cringing at their own memories to remember mine.
This reminds me of this tumblr account I used to read: https://istillhaveanxiety.tumblr.com everyone has weird shit they’re embarrassed about. You’ll be okay
Every single time you think of an embarrassing moment, think of at least one other person that witnessed you embarrassing yourself.
Now that you have them in your head think of something they did that was incredibly embarrassing, you cant? That’s because nobody cares about anyone but themselves and therefore nobody cares about what you did that was “embarrassing”
I mentally replace the memory with a sitcom laugh track and pretend it was peak comedy instead of a life-ruiner 😂
The oldest cells in your body are only 7 years old that means that anything cringy you remember doing over seven years ago was done by someone else that you’ve since urinated out.
Entering your 30s helps. Do whatever you can to stop being in your 20s. That’s my advice. If possible turn 40.
I forget them. 😅
Coping mechanism from having a shitty childhood. It’s a double edged sword though, I basically have a bad memory in general and can’t remember good times either.
My brain is use to deleting things to protect myself that it can’t really differentiate between good and bad.
By embracing them.
Firstly, I accept that they happened the way they did and that I was a different person in the past.
If I were sent back to my past self with it’s anxiety, low communication skills from not having 3 years of customer service yet, low self esteem, self-doubt, and so on that I’d either repeat the memory or just make an even cringier memory with that second chance.
Those cringe memories don’t hit as hard or come up as often as they once did anymore because I’ve accepted that what’s happened had happened and that because of those experiences they’ve shaped me into the person I am now.
I forget them over time
I do some creative writing.
I journal down the memory to the best of my ability. Then I imagine I have a time machine, and I revisit myself to stop myself from doing the thing.
Then I read it over.
Then I burn the papers.
It’s kind of cathartic.
While you can’t un-cringe the past, take comfort in two things:
You’re probably the only person alive who even remembers the cringe moment in question. But even if someone else does remember, so what? Let them remember you in all your cringe glory & forever wonder why you did it.
Thing number two: You’ll DEFINITELY never do that cringe thing again now. You’ve grown, you’ve moved on, the fact that you think about old cringey things is proof that you aren’t the same person anymore & you wouldn’t do things the same way again.
I’ve begun counting how many times I think back and hate myself over specific moments, and at a certain point it just seems unreasonable for me to continue being upset about it. Like if it’s the 12th time ive thought about it, then I’ve served my penance and the next time it comes up im just like nope I don’t need to feel bad about that anymore cause I already did feel bad
People notice the things you did wayyyyy less than you think. They aren’t thinking about the cringe things you did. They’re living their lives.
I understand having cringe moments, and I understand anxiety.
If your thoughts about those moments are getting intrusive or disruptive, consider therapy. A good therapist can help you understand why you did whatever cringe things you did, forgive yourself, and grow.
Wishing you peace and self-forgiveness.
Lots of amazing advice here. I try to remember the memories we replay often get stronger. Try to really intentionally remember something fun and joyful from your past and then add to that list. Play it often. Trust me, over time that reel will play more easily and stronger than the negative one. It takes practice.