I have learned firsthand how the human brain handles traumatic memories. I have gotten better at handling failure. I have realized things about myself, I have gotten a better idea of who I am. I have learned first hand that life is easier when your brain is functioning. I have met some really interesting people, I have met people who have only known me as an adult. I have changed my plans for life multiple times, I have had a relationship and realized that I most definitely do not like guys. I have gotten better at forgiving myself. I have a much better life than I did 2 years ago.
If you want to understand how are brains work try the book "Righteous Minds". We all react emotionally first then use our intellect (rational side of our brain) to rationalize our response. With time we can alter our emotional response, or manage it first, but it takes understanding how we function to do it well. We also build stories to explain our world, and like all stories/myths, our stories are often inaccurate and always incomplete. I realize this is an attempt to condense an entire book, actually several books, into a paragraph so it is not a very good story I am presenting to you.
I was just listening to a Podcast and Haidt was on it, crazy how that works. Will need to find that book.
It was a very interesting synopsis, so you presented it well.