[pngindreamr]

I have times where I am just relaxing and I think of memories that make me anxious. These are usually the same 1-3 memories that I associate with regret or humiliation. I have tried so many different things to help stop. As soon as I start thinking about it, it escalates and I honestly think its been changed just by how much I think about it. I get that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I have been through therapy and was taught to accept the memories and do breathing exercises but this does not work long term. Has anyone been able to keep the memories from haunting them like this?

[rise__above]

I went through this for a few months. All I can say is distraction is powerful.

[MaryJayne47]

I know exactly what you mean! Its almost like you can relive the moment in your head and feel the exact same feelings you felt at that exact moment. I hate it! Here's a small example. Someone that was once close to me passed away a couple years ago, and at the funeral I couldn't remember one of their family members names when introducing them to my boyfriend. I felt so bad, and I got really down on myself, even though I'm pretty sure with what just happened they didn't care at all! But it bothered me for weeks...maybe even months. Every time I would think about it I would get that feeling in the pit of my stomach like you talked about. Again, that's just a small example. Worse things have happened and I do the exact same thing...put myself back in that situation once again and feel all the same feelings. I agree with rise_above...distractions! I don't feel like its the same as "letting go" but my thoughts are that if you can distract yourself enough that you feel better, you may realize that, over time, they're not worth getting emotional over and it's only you that is allowing it to make you emotional. Its still a work in progress for me...but i'm sure there's many things I don't think about much anymore and don't really realize it...like the funeral story

[pngindreamr]

Thank you all for your responses. I just have certain instances where I replay in my head- like you said with the funeral memory- and wish I did things differently. I can relive the moment the only problem is I cannot change it so reliving does not help me it only makes me anxious and wish I can change it. So this vicious cycle forms where all I get is guilt and anxiety. Many of these memories are from 2 years or more in the past. I have too vivid of a memory and I hate it! I really remember almost every detail in a sense. After about 5 years one of these memories stopped haunting me. I guess I did finally let it go or like you said realize it was not worth it. I just cannot wait until it won't happen at all.