After traumatic events (eg, earthquake, flood, fire, etc.) survivors may experience an intense and complex emotional load such as “self-blame”. In the formation of this emotional load, the fact that individuals seek the causes of the events they experience in themselves and tend to ignore the external factors that are realistic and that they cannot control can be effective. It is stated in the studies that some individuals can get rid of this feeling by helping others after surviving and by appreciating themselves and their abilities.
There are some factors that increase the likelihood of individuals experiencing survival guilt:
- Traumatic experiences in early childhood,
- Depression history
- low self-esteem,
- Lack of coping skills etc.
Individuals experiencing guilt for surviving show some psychological and physiological symptoms.
As psychological symptoms; Examples include feelings of helplessness, uncontrollable recollection of traumatic events, loss of interest in life, and obsessive thoughts. Physiological symptoms are; Symptoms may include loss or increase in appetite, sleep disturbances, headache, nausea, or increased heart rate.
After the traumatic events experienced, the manifestation of some of the above-mentioned negative symptoms may be considered normal for the first few weeks. However, these symptoms are expected to decrease and disappear over time. If you have been experiencing such symptoms for a long time and you think that they are affecting your quality of life more and more, it is recommended that you consult a specialist.
