Guilt as an emotion is a feeling that plagues countless people across the world, especially when they have to face up to their errors or mistakes. Symptoms include a sense of repulsiveness, self-doubt and uncertainty, which guide people to commit more errors. Guilt is an emotion found in people who feel guilty about what they have done. Guilt often leads to depression, making it hard for people to function in society. However, other associated irrational behaviors include self-injury, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. These are some of the more severe symptoms found in people who feel guilty about what they have done.
Table of Contents
Guilt as an emotion – causes
Research suggests that the individual’s sense of morality causes guilt. When individuals fail to fulfil their moral obligations, people around them or society might feel that they have failed, which would cause them to feel guilty.
There are many reasons why people commit errors, and some of them include:
- Intentional neglect of duties or obligations.
- Purposeful violation of rules and policies.
- Faulty perception of actions and consequences lead to the incorrect identification of what is or is not essential.
- Loss of self-control.
- Influence by others who may want individuals to make decisions that are detrimental to them.
- Alcohol or drug abuse can cause a distorted view of reality, leading to people committing errors they would have normally avoided if they were sober.
Guilt as an emotion – Contributing factors
The most common contributing factor in guilt as an emotion is our moral values. These moral values are the result of our upbringing or peer group. Another way to cause guilt is through transgression, which occurs when an individual breaks the law. This can be directly related to crime statistics, where people are found guilty of crimes because they do not follow the rules that are set by society.
Guilt as an emotion – Symptoms
Symptoms of guilt include:
- Feeling bad
- Having a sense of regret
- Feeling responsible for something
- Worry
- Sadness
- Loss of interest in everyday activities, etc.
If you feel guilty, the chances are that you’ve done something wrong or hurt someone else’s feelings. For example, you might feel guilty if you promise to go shopping with your friend on Saturday and then don’t keep that commitment.
Guilt effects
Effects of guilt include:
- Stress (heavy feeling in the chest)
- Weight loss or gain
- Sleep problems (e.g., insomnia, broken sleep)
- Changes in appetite (e.g., loss of appetite)
- Fatigue
- Poor concentration
- Loss of interest in sex.
It might be easy for you to feel guilty about forgetting someone’s birthday or letting your team down by giving an assignment late. But guilt can become a problem if it affects how you do things at home and work. For example, you might avoid facing problems because of guilt.
Types of guilt
Guilt as an emotion is often associated with various life experiences. The types of grief are outlined below.
Guilt and grief
When experiencing guilt, it is common to feel grief or loss. Without being resolved, guilt that goes on for a while can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, etc. People sometimes experience this when grieving the death of someone close to them, and they might feel bad about things they said or did towards the other person before their death.
Guilt vs shame
It is essential to recognize the difference between guilt and shame. Guilt occurs when you have done something wrong, while shame happens when you perceive yourself as flawed somehow. For instance, if a friend takes your car without your permission and causes an accident, you might feel guilt for lending them your car. But if your friend borrows your car and crashes it because they don’t know how to drive (i.e., something that is their fault), then you would probably feel shame about lending them the car in the first place.
Guilt after cheating
When someone cheats on their partner, their guilt can be crippling and lead to depression. Partners might break up because of this, and it can also affect their self-esteem and confidence. The person who cheated may experience short-term guilt immediately after cheating or long-term guilt months or years later.
Guilt after break up
If you’ve recently split up with your lover, you’re undoubtedly feeling guilty. This is normal, and such feelings usually pass within a few months or years, depending on whether you feel like something you could have done to make it work. But if you feel guilty for several months after breaking up, it might be a sign of unresolved grief, and you may need outside help.
Guilt in the workplace
Employees can experience guilt when they make decisions that affect their team, and they might feel guilty if they agree to work on a weekend and then let others down by not meeting deadlines. If you often think about how your actions could affect other people, it’s likely consuming too much of your time.
Guilt about leaving a job
People sometimes have a hard time leaving their jobs because they feel guilty about quitting. This is especially common when people have to leave a position involuntarily. Such employees may stay in a job that’s not right for them just to avoid guilt or look for another job that pays less money. Leaving a lousy workplace can be tricky, but it is better for your health and happiness in the long run.
Guilt delusions
Delusions of guilt are false beliefs that you have done something wrong or hurt someone else. A person with schizophrenia might hear voices telling them they are guilty of something when they are not responsible in reality. Delusions of guilt are widespread in people with schizophrenia, as are hallucinations such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there.
Guilt depression
Some people might feel so guilty about what they did or didn’t do that it causes them to be depressed for a long time. They might feel like everything wrong in their lives is their fault, leading to suicidal thoughts and feelings. If you have these feelings after something terrible has happened in your life, it is crucial to seek help from mental health professionals.
Guilt eating
People might eat more than they should when feeling guilty about something they’ve done. For example, if you cheat on someone and feel guilty about it for a long time, you might eat a lot of food to suppress these feelings or distract yourself.
Guilt complex
A guilt complex is when you feel guilty about something that happened in the past. This might lead to sleeplessness, restlessness, and depression. If these symptoms become worse over time or start impacting your work or relationships, it’s possible that seeing a therapist will be beneficial.
Guilt trip
A guilt trip is when somebody else makes you feel guilty about something. They might put a lot of pressure on you to do or say something that you don’t want to, or they might try and make you think that the only reason they’re still your friend is that you’re doing what they want. If someone tries to guilt-trip you, it might be a good idea to remove them from your life altogether.
Guilt survivor
A guilt survivor is someone who has suffered a lot of guilt and shame about something in the past but eventually made peace with their actions or decided not to feel guilty anymore. For example, some sexual assault victims may want to keep it a secret but feel so much guilt about what happened that they won’t tell anyone. But if they can find ways to overcome their guilt and shame, they might help others who are in the same situation.
How to overcome guilt as an emotion
People can avoid or lessen guilt by knowing beforehand whether their actions will have negative consequences. They can also try to avoid being in situations where they are likely to feel guilty. If you realize that you have done something wrong, it might help to apologize to the person you’ve hurt and explain why you did what you did. However, if the damage cannot be undone, there’s nothing else you can do but accept your feelings of guilt.
To overcome guilt, it is necessary to be aware of what they have done wrong, why they committed those errors and the consequences the errors may bring. People who feel guilty about their actions often think that there is nothing they can do to undo what has been done. However, this is not true as many things can be done to make amends for what has been done wrong. Individuals should think of the people they have hurt and how they can help them overcome their pain, using both material resources like money and non-material resources like time.
If this cannot be done, individuals should reflect on their actions. Sometimes people make mistakes because they are influenced by other people who want them to do something detrimental. In that case, they have to separate themselves from these individuals to be free of guilt.
Research suggests that self-forgiveness can lessen an individual’s feelings of guilt.
Prevention
The best way to stop someone from doing something wrong is to make sure they know what they have done wrong in the past. There are many ways to do this, including:
- Inquiry about what caused their errors.
- Reflecting on their mistakes and how these errors can be avoided in the future.
- Helping them understand that they will always feel bad about it no matter how long it has been since they did something wrong. This also includes helping them realize that making decisions based on guilt is a sign of weakness and a lack of self-control.
- Reminding them about the negative consequences of their actions, including emotional distress, financial crisis, and loss of respect from people around them.
- Social support helps individuals find the will to make good decisions instead of based on guilt.
- Self-forgiveness is also an essential tool in preventing guilt since it helps individuals understand that making mistakes does not necessarily make them evil people.
Treatments
Of all treatments, psychotherapy is the most effective method of treating those with guilt. If individuals learn to control their own emotions and behavior, they can learn to avoid such feelings in the future.
Self-help techniques are also effective. One method is to keep a journal of everything that has happened in the day, including negative and joyous moments. This generates perspective on the events that have occurred. Recognizing the negative feelings and not allowing them to diminish self-worth is another technique for reducing guilt.
When a person starts feeling guilty about something, they should find things that will help them cope with their emotions and realize that everyone makes mistakes and it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Finally, people who feel guilt should think about what happened, identifying their role in it, the consequences of their actions and how they could have handled the situation differently. They should think about what they can do to make up for it now.
Conclusion
The emotions that cause individuals to commit errors are challenging to control since they happen automatically. However, it is possible to avoid making the same mistake more than once by understanding what caused them to make these mistakes in the first place and learning from their errors. When people realize that they feel guilty no matter how long it has been since these actions were committed, they can learn to overcome guilt and focus on making the right decision in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (FAQs)
Is refusing a breathalyzer an admission of guilt?
No, refusing a breathalyzer test is not an admission of guilt. However, it can be used as evidence that the person refused to take the test because they knew they were intoxicated and guilty of driving drunk.
Refusing to take a breathalyzer test can also lead to harsher penalties if convicted of DUI, so it’s important to speak with an attorney if you’re considering refusing the test.
What is guilt tripping in relationships?
Guilt-tripping is pressuring someone into doing something they don’t want to do by making them feel guilty. It’s a type of emotional manipulation.
Manipulators often use guilt trips to get what they want from their victims. They might make up excuses for why the victim should do what the manipulator wants, or they might accuse the victim of being selfish or uncaring. Whatever tactics the manipulator uses, their goal is always the same: to make the victim feel guilty so they’ll do what the manipulator wants.
Guilt-tripping can be very harmful to relationships. It can damage trust and create resentments that can be difficult to repair.
What is neurotic guilt?
Neurotic guilt is excessive, irrational guilt that often stems from a fear of being or appearing bad. It’s usually accompanied by intrusive thoughts, compulsive behaviors, and overwhelming feelings of anxiety.
People with neurotic guilt often feel like they’re never good enough and are constantly plagued by doubts and fears. They may excessively apologize or ruminate on past mistakes, even when there’s no reason to feel guilty. This type of guilt can be very destructive and lead to emotional distress.
What is the root cause of guilt?
Guilt is a cognitive, emotional, and social phenomenon typically characterized by feelings of regret, sadness, or remorse after an act deemed morally wrong.
The root cause of guilt is our conscience – the internal voice that reminds us of our moral values and standards. Our conscience judges our thoughts and actions according to what we believe is right or wrong, and when we violate our ethical standards, it creates feelings of guilt.
What is extreme guilt a symptom of?
Guilt is a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some act, omission, or crime. It differs from shame in that guilt is directed at the self, while shame is directed at others.
Extreme guilt can signify that a person has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is a psychological condition that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. Symptoms of PTSD can include flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, nightmares, and extreme guilt.
What type of anxiety is associated with shame and guilt?
Guilt is a feeling of responsibility or regret for a perceived wrong or offense. Shame is the painful feeling that comes from believing that one is flawed or defective.
Both guilt and shame can be accompanied by anxiety, but they are not the same. Guilt is focused on what you have done wrong, while shame is focused on who you are as a person. Guilt can lead to self-blame and feelings of worthlessness, while shame can lead to isolation, secrecy, and feelings of inferiority.
