I used to be consumed by regret. I think part of it was my upbringing. My bp mother who was incorrectly treated by AD alone was always consumed by regret, and she shared it with me at will, even when I was little. One of the biggest regrets of her life was marrying my father. I tried pointing out to her that I, the person in whom she was confiding this regret, would not have been on this Earth had she not married my father. It did not help. It went on and on for years. I think it is really unfair to subject a growing child to this sort of sickness. I learned regret. There was nothing else to pick up from her, emotionally. Btw I agree that it is NOT clear whether regret is even an emotion.

My other problem is the blurring between remorse and regret. When I behaved badly towards my then husband, I did not feel remorse, I felt regret seeing poor consequences. I wished I could have undone harm but not out of feeling of remorse or pity for him but out of the desire not to have the consequences. Anyone else with the same problem? Maybe it is my personality disorder speaking.

Boy, Morethingswrong, thanks for the thread idea!

Prozac helps me not to feel regret but to move one. Prozac rules!