Significant Events (Accident)
Introduction
An accident is a significant event that personally I would like to forget, but the event keeps on coming back to my mind. Pretending to make the experience disappear with time does not work. It is two years since I was involved in a motor accident, at times I remember and instantly break down in low spirits and cry out.
Main body
The memory of the accident may be accurate or inaccurate depending on a number of variables. Personal event memories are characterized with individual characteristics that are unique, in which an individual keep on recalling with multi-sensory and vivid attributes, which defines the actual representation of the events that took place at that material day. It has been noted that personal memory is characterized with vivid sensory and details which are qualities defining the memorable moment (Benson et al., 2012). Flashback memories are directed at salient events and intertwined with personal memories.
In the case of the accident, personal event and episodic memory were responsible for recollections of everything that happened on that fateful day. Personal event memory according to psychologists is specifically compared to episodic memory, in the sense that personal event memory is characterized by high levels of complex sensory and detail qualities (Kleinman, 2012).
Hippocampus activities are critical in recollections of events relating to the personal memories. It has been noted that Atrophy aspect is related to the hippocampus which wear out with age and elderly people are characterized by low levels of personal events recollection (Benson et al., 2012). The Amygdale is the sensitive part of the memory responsible for retrieval and storage of personal events. Emotional events are characterized with high activities relating to hippocampus and amygdale. Basing on the diverse variables involved in the creation, storage and retrieval of personal memories; there are high chances that the information on the accident I had maybe accurate or inaccurate altogether.
Human memory has been subject to cognitive psychology, human memory constitute three major processes identifying with storage, encoding and retrieval of events (Kleinman, 2012). Participation of the memory has been part of the cognitive aspects of the world that shape the way people interact. Common theories on memory are physical theory of memory, the biochemical theory of memory, chemical theory of memory, associative theory of memory and cognitive theory of memory among others (Kleinman, 2012).
The events of the accident had traumatic results and I would not personally wish to face them in the future, in most of the time I prefer not talking about the events that took place on that material day. Through time, I have learned to take responsibility of the accident and focus at a better future. Subjective wellbeing (SWB) is related to the quality of life after the significant event (Benson et al., 2012). Personally I led a low profiled life until I came to accept the reality and relate the accident with a bright future. This was after changing my attitude towards the cognitive judgments and the emotional reactions towards the accident.
Psychologists argue that happiness in life is a build-up of satisfaction in life relating to the negative and the positive events that shape one’s life (Kleinman, 2012). SWB has been concerned with the emotions and moods that shape the satisfaction levels of individuals depending on the intensity of the events. SWB is highly influenced by the personality traits; which are extraversion, openness, consciousness, neuroticism, conscientiousness and agreeableness among others. Human health is related to SWB and directly proportional to better health. Health is also influenced by optimism and positive emotions (Benson et al., 2012).
The accident has changed my continued personal development, which has influenced my activities relating to self awareness, developing my strengths, improving self esteem, diversifying on my self-knowledge, renewing my identity, enhancing my spiritual development, improving my potentials, valuing life, valuing other people in the society, improving my quality of life, enhancing my lifestyle, fulfilling my aspirations, improving my health, cultivating personal autonomy and improving on my social abilities.
The accident left me with physical and emotional injuries, I was unsure of life or death in the long run. The experience was characterized with worry, pain and uncertainty. I do not remember all that happened since my life was at stake. Accepting what happened, and that it happened to me change my perception of life. To some extent I questioned the existence of God as the whole experience was characterized by un-clarity and poor insight. I learnt that human beings are largely selfish and concerned about their survival, I have to appreciate all that comes in the way of people whether positive or negative.
Stress management is critical to understanding how human beings react to stress, people are created differently and in the same context, react differently to the stress, which shape the abilities attached to coping mechanisms (Kleinman, 2012). Stress is a reality in life and the twenty first century is characterized with diverse stressors in the environment. Competing demands are influenced by time limits and the level of attention. People with advanced stress management skills are advantaged in effectively coping with stress (Benson et al., 2012). The accident made me learn on different skills of stress management and valuing life as it is, not taking life for granted.
Conclusion
Accidents maybe devastating depending on the extent, it is important for individuals to learn from such negative incidences. Human mind records, stores and retrieves information explaining experiences in life. Struggles and challenges are part of stepping stones towards achieving the meaning of life in attaining the preset goals.
References
Benson, N. et al. (2012). The Psychology Book (Big Ideas Simply Explained). London: DK Publishers.
Kleinman, P. (2012). Psych 101: Psychology Facts, Basics, Statistics, Tests, and More! New York: Adams Media.
