"Blanket kicking" is now a commonly used neologism, derived from the act of kicking off a blanket with your foot.

When you think about it, there are many targets for blanket kicking. Why do these memories torment us?

From a psychological perspective, this is due to our brain's instinct for self-evaluation.

Humans are social animals, and it has always been important to maintain our image and reputation within a group.

Since primitive times, even small mistakes have been exaggerated in memory and left as warnings to "be careful next time."

From the brain's standpoint, it's not trying to torment us but rather establishing survival strategies.

Scientifically, the combination of the amygdala and prefrontal cortex plays a significant role.

The amygdala is the area that remembers emotions, so feelings like embarrassment or shame are deeply ingrained. The prefrontal cortex continuously recalls and evaluates these feelings.

The problem is that the brain perceives this not as a simple memory but as a "danger signal."

Thus, it replays these memories to prevent similar situations.

In simple terms, it's like an automatic warning alarm in my head saying, "Hey, don't mess up like that again."

But why does this happen especially at night?

During the day, there are many stimuli like work, conversations with friends, and phone notifications that suppress stray thoughts.

However, when you turn off the lights and lie down, external stimuli disappear, and the brain's default mode network (DMN) becomes activated.

This network acts like a backup playback function, excelling at playing unnecessary past footage.

That's why forgotten dark histories suddenly resurface and torment me.

However, blanket kicking isn't necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can help with self-reflection and introspection.

It can prevent me from repeating past mistakes and serve as a catalyst for my growth.

Of course, if it becomes severe, it can lead to anxiety or self-deprecation, but generally, the brain is providing a small training session for me.

So how can we reduce it?

The first is to change the meaning from "I was so embarrassed then" to "Thanks to that experience, I make fewer mistakes now," which reduces the toxicity of the memory.

The second is techniques like mindfulness meditation. It's about practicing letting go by thinking, "Here we go again."

The third is self-compassion. It's the attitude of saying, "I did my best then; everyone has foolish moments."

Ultimately, blanket kicking is a phenomenon where past dark histories automatically replay every night, and it's a natural psychological response that everyone experiences at least once.