How do you block thoughts out from the past when trying to sleep?

You can try to distract your mind as you fall asleep. Try sleeping with noise in the background anything from a tv on low volume, soothing music, a fan, even the window open a bit. Focus on the sound and your breathing

You can close your eyes, let the darkness sink in and focus on being comfortable. Try really hard to think positively and drown out the past, as you can make a beautiful future.

When you are trying to go to sleep and you have thoughts from the past- It is normally a good idea to focus on something else, think of things that make you happy, not sad. That is normally a good idea :) Another idea, is before you go to bed to sleep, write down all the things that are on your mind and fold it and put it away somewhere, where you don't need to see It, then your worries or thoughts are being looked after, and then hopefully you can have a wonderful night's rest.

Visualization is something you can do when trying to block out thoughts from the past while trying to sleep. I imagine those thoughts and acknowledge them, then I imagine the thought being surrounded in a bubble. I then thank that thought in my mind and see those bubble thoughts floating away.

I know this might sound a bit strange, but try to count sheep. Distracting yourself is the best medicine against unwanted thoughts. It can also help to think about a swing - the movements of a swing are very calming and soothing. It sounds pretty weird, but it's definitely worth a try. (:

Think of something else, immediately. This happens to me all the time, and when it does I think of my favorite song or a funny memory. Or even what happened earlier that day.

Try thinking of something else and focus on only that. It will help you relieve the pressure from your mind.

I use a method called imagery visualization. I think about a memory or place in time where I was happy, calm, serene, and picture it in my mind until I fall asleep

So the first step to blocking an unwanted thought is really embracing the idea that you don't really need to think it. Second, you need a strategy for handling the thought when it does come. A good if-then plan is just what the doctor ordered for coping with unwanted thoughts and disruptive feelings.

Replace them with other thoughts, positive memories, review your day, your achievements, a prayer can help, visualize your next day in a positive way, athletes have always used visualization techniques, and they have proven effective for stress or anxiety. If you can't block them out, write them down, writing them usually does have a therapeutic benefit, and it seems that once we write something down, it's off our minds for a time.