A common part of bereavement is an experience of guilt. This guilt may appear in the form of thoughts about continuing to be alive after our loved one has died. Or, we may wonder if we should be experiencing more sadness or anguish. For a range of reasons, what is commonly called survivor's guilt happens for many, many people, and it can be an intense experience. Normalizing survivor's guilt can be one good first step in supporting ourselves to move through or with this part of grief. We may also benefit from validating the emotion behind the guilty thoughts. These balms for survivor's guilt, and perhaps most or all antidotes and coping strategies for guilt after losing a loved one, are social, potentially because the guilty thoughts are also social in that they spring in the context of relationship with our deceased love one. What has helped you be with and metabolize survivor's guilt?
[image description: A heart with a slight smile and a single wild braid of hair stands in a pleasant daze. The heart has a thought bubble with a fantasy image of six shower heads. Text reads: "Day 23 of Mourning," and "Daydream about the 6-headed shower you will take. Know it will come soon enough."]
#MindfulHearts
RETROSPECTIVE
~ 7/23 ~
on this day
2021
2020
2019
2018
~ celebrating four years of daily cartoons ~
RETROSPECTIVE
~ 7/23 ~
on this day
2021
2020
2019
2018
~ celebrating four years of daily cartoons ~
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