Dealing with Survivor’s Guilt

Posted on: Apr 12, 2021 Publish By: funerallink

When a tragedy hits, we may find ourselves thankful for the chance. Other times, we may feel the unwanted guilt it brings. A survivor is always grateful for the chance of life. However, as he darts through the course of life, he will remember the tragedy in details and will always wonder, the could haves and the what ifs.

Survivor’s guilt is a common reaction to traumatic or life-altering events wherein a person was able to overcome the incident while seeing other people perish. Feeling extreme guilt over a person’s passing is a symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) wherein professional help is needed for intervention.

Who Suffers From Survivor’s Guilt?

People who may suffer from survivor’s guilt are but not limited to the following:

Parents who outlive their child/children.
Medical personnel
First responders
Natural disaster survivors
War veterans
Individuals involved in a traumatic event
Family members who lost a loved one to suicide

What are the Symptoms of Survivor’s Guilt?

These are the most common symptoms displayed by a person suffering from survivor’s guilt.

Irritability and anger
Helplessness, confusion and chaotic attitude
Disconnecting from family
Problems sleeping such as insomnia
Headches, migraines, stomachaches and nausea
Flashbacks of the traumatic event or the persons he was with
Obsessive thoughts and questioning
Thoughts of suicide or social isolation

What are the Tips in Coping Survivor’s Guilt?

Do you know someone who may have been suffering from survivor’s guilt? Here are tips you can share to alleviate the pain of this traumatic response.

Connect with Friends or Family Members

When it comes to feelings such as survivor’s guilt, it is crucial to share it with friends, family or a professional. Although there are instances where loved ones may not understand what you feel, this is the time to lean into support groups.

Because of this pandemic, face-to-face interactions may be restricted. If this is the case, online communities who have experienced the same as you can help alleviate the troubles or the consequences of such feelings.

Accept Feelings or Responses

Because survivor’s guilt is a natural response to a traumatic event, the best thing a person can do when faced with such incident is to accept the situation. Yes, it is hard and may not come instantly but the process of acceptance is a long and grueling one. Take the time to process every step of acceptance. The grief, the anger, the loneliness, the doubt, let that all sink in.

Be mindful and practice self-care

Being mindful of one’s tendencies and emotions is a great way of coping up with the negativities of the situation. You can learn more about grounding techniques such as focusing in one’s breath or feeling the sensation of things around them.

Another thing a person can try is to give himself extra TLC. Meditating, aromatherapy, yoga, or exercise are great outlets.

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