In the past month, and until today, we witnessed war crimes and atrocities committed against innocent Palestinians, Congo civilians, and Sudanese. The world is watching horror come to life as we sit down in the comfort of our own homes, feeling guilty, helpless, and depressed. Most of us are burnt out, cannot bring ourselves to do anything, and we carry on with our normal lives after seeing the news every night. We start to feel guilty about everything we do and every place we go. This is called survivor`s guilt and it’s very common. To understand survivor’s guilt we need to see its definition, symptoms, and how to cope with it.
First: Definition
Survivor’s guilt is a response to an event in which someone else experienced loss or harm that didn’t happen to you.
It can be also defined and applied to people who survived a traumatic event while others didn’t and the survivors feel guilty about not being able to save the other person.
It’s associated with outrageous events such as war, natural disasters, disasters, and acts of terrorism. It’s about seeing people who have experienced pain and violence and feeling helpless about saving or helping them,
According to healthline, there are other indications of survivor guilt that are similar to PTSD symptoms. Self-blame and guilt are listed as symptoms of PTSD in the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). It is possible to have PTSD without having survivor guilt, but many people who suffer from both conditions do.
Second: Signs and Symptoms
Multiple signs of survivor guilt include:
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Nightmares or flashbacks that return you to the scene
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Being preoccupied with memories of what happened
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Feeling as though you're not doing enough all the time
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Being anxious or furious
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A sense of powerlessness
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Sensitivity
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Lack of inspiration
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Shifts in mood and fits of rage
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Suicidal ideas
Third: Ways to Cope
The following advice could assist people in overcoming survivor's guilt.
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Let yourself grieve and engage in productive endeavors.
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Interact with others
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Practice self-forgiveness
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Obtain professional help
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Remember that these emotions are normal.
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Avoid isolating yourself.
If your symptoms are severe or your guilt is getting in the way of your ability to operate normally, it’s best to see a doctor.
Just remember it’s not your fault and get help if these feelings become too difficult to manage on your own.
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