Thank you Joe, your words are wise and are correct in terms of positive recovery and living one's best life. Or minding my "true north" as I put it.

As far as escape from memory goes, I don't think that is possible. I say that because I did escape the memory as it occured (at age 9). I disassociated from it for 15 years. It's the minds defense against overwhelming trauma. But the day my mind needed to process that event there was no more forgetting. In fact I needed to dig deep into it in order to heal. It's something I have to deal with the rest of this life.

I did read Benighted papers on the subject and was struck by their congruence with my life experience. Living proof and validation.