Unwanted memories when trying to concentrate.

When I am reading a book that requires a degree of concentration I find myself suddenly being reminded by some sentence in the book of some or other humiliating event that happened decades before in my life. I react to these unwanted memories by saying "I wish I was dead" or some other nonsense like "My mother is dead" (she's been actually dead for many years).

This crap really interferes with my concentration and I'm always frightened someone else in my household will hear and wonder what is going on. Other than this I am I think in quite good mental health.

What is this called, and how can I stop doing it?

Dear ray:

I think it is pain from the past; pain that still exists- in the present- in your brain; is trying to get your attention. Something like: hey, before you concentrate on someone else's story, I AM HERE! Take care of me!

Pain, hurt, humiliation... these don't go away until we attend to them.

atina