At 73, I still have occasional 'shame attacks.' But I'm learning to cope with them better.

Even in my 70s, I still have moments of pretty deep shame. However, I'm learning to cope with them better. I do simple tasks in the moment to ground myself and journal through my feelings.

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You can opt-out at any time by visiting our Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of the email. Advertisement At 73, I'm the age when people are supposed to be wise elders, passing on their hard-earned insights to younger generations. Yet I'm still vulnerable to what's called a "shame attack," where a person is so overwhelmed by a sense of shame that they lose their bearings.

The good news is I'm learning how to free myself from the powerful grip of shame within a few hours and get my sturdy self back. This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now.

Have an account? Log in . The experience of shame is so intense and visceral that I can't always pinpoint exactly what is going on. Recently, though, I was able to figure out what it was and label it.

Naming is a way of framing the experience as separate from me: No matter ho.