well if its working go with it, I have always liked distraction with children I find it works more often than not especially with music and games to take their mind away from what they were upset about.if bubbles work thats great, .you seem to have a handle on it Good Luck
Thank you all for your response. I have found that she has started to respond well to blowing bubbles. The breathing seems to help calm her, but she can't do it without actually blowing the bubbles. For one of her normal tantrums I just let her work it out on her own, but there is a difference between the normal ones and the ones where she is fixated on something or needs to have us "start over" and do it the way she wanted it done. Those fits will go on for hours or until the situation has been fixed. Other distraction activities have not worked, but so far bubbles seem to do the trick, I think because it makes her take deep breaths, but I could be wrong.
My technique for handling tantrums is to ignore them. Leave the room, or plug your ears, or read a book. Don't speak. Don't placate. Without an audience the tantrums will eventually stop. Maybe not immediately, but they will.
I dont see this as an obsession, perhaps next episode she has , play it down, do not attempt to placate her , let her soothe herself, I sometimes feel in our haste to make them feel better, we over do it, yes try distraction but if it doesn't work let her have her 'meltdown' let it run its course .,perhaps you are trying too hard .good luck
Is she obsessive, or does she just want her way? This is often the problem with children who have tantrums. They don't get what they want and then - they are off. I see this problem more often with girls than with boys.