I dissagree with the statement from Mr. Hoffer, that we can never heal from our experiences. There is a period of time, which differs from individual to individual, due to just how much their psychy was attached, as to how long it takes to heal. Also, the healing process has to be a "choice". It doesn't happen automatically no matter how much time passes. The affects of it's damage on us needs to be addressed right up front, which is a painful process. We tend to delay it because we know it will hurt. Simply walking away will not do that. It will indeed haunt you forever, unless you take steps to rid your entire being of it's affects.
And, even then, the scars are still there. Should we chose to continue to dwell on the past and how it hurt us, these scars will continue to be not quite healed. Just as death of loved ones is a tremendously sad thing, and affects us forever, we can heal from the loss, as long as we want to heal. When we realize that our memories are taking us down a morose and depressive avenue, we turn back toward the reality of our existence in the present.
This is an excellent thread, by the way.