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Unpopular opinion: My earliest memory is my dad's car breaking down on the highway, and it's why I can't stand being unprepared now.
We were on I-95 in the rain, and the engine just died. I was maybe 4, and I remember the panic in his voice when he said 'we're not going anywhere'. I still get a pit in my stomach if my gas tank drops below half a tank. Anyone else have a core memory that gave them a weird, specific anxiety?
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vera_robinson361mo ago
Wait, your brain actually wired itself that way because of the feeling of being stuck? That's wild, I never thought about it like that before. So your whole half-tank rule isn't just a quirk, it's your brain trying to protect you from reliving that moment in the rain.
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janah832mo ago
Yeah, the part about the gas tank dropping below half really got me. I read this article once about how early stress memories can wire your brain for specific worries. It said it's not even about the big event, but the small feeling of being stuck that sticks with you. So your thing about the car makes total sense. I mean, it's your brain trying to never feel that panic again. Idk, maybe it's just me but that stuff is so powerful.
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sandraf982mo ago
Ever hear about the friend who got locked in a dark closet during hide and seek as a kid? She still carries a tiny keychain flashlight everywhere, even in the daytime. She says it's not about the dark, it's about the feeling of the latch clicking shut and no one hearing her.
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