obsession over past

I have a extreme tendency to obsess over past issues they are usually events that I regret and embarass me I think about these events often when I am stressed out in phases usually and any reminder of the events can trigger a episode I always feel the same sense of embarassment or shame over what happened and it can effect my mood they episode is usually over quickly. I have tried some methods of coping like thinking of a blank sheet of paper until I feel better or counting to try to block the episode from hitting me sometimes it works pretty good but not fully  Please help me I ahve really no access to dr.  I am a mother of 2 small children and want to get rid of this problem. what are some other coping strategies I can use any info would be helpful

[Ted A Grossbart, Ph.D.]

These blocking strategies are a good first level of defense.  From there I would add really focusing on the question, "If I weren't thinking or feeling about  X, what would I be thinking about?"  Obessions are often a way of protecting ourselves from other deeper concerns.

You have a tendency to beat yourself up about things, so think about who taught you this approach.  Is continuing a sort of misguided loyalty to your 'training program'?

Let me know how these go.

tg