That Ship Has Sailed: Overcoming Guilt for Better Health

Guilt has a necessary and useful purpose. It helps us recognize when we have wronged or could potentially wrong others. It allows us to reflect on our actions and make changes to our behavior as necessary. These are great things but what’s not so great is a guilt that lingers and the long term damaging effects which is why overcoming guilt is so necessary and important.

One of the problems with chronic guilt is those that suffer from it can become hypersensitive to ordinary situations increasing their stress load. It is known that highly stressed people make more mistakes and are prone to more accidents due to clouded judgment. Social relationships suffer as over analysis helps to create negative situations that had no basis in reality. In addition, those who suffer chronically with guilt (or constantly made to feel guilty) tend to be easily manipulated especially by dark hearted and selfish people who recognize what is happening. You end up on one guilt trip after another as you constantly bend to the will and whims of the manipulators.

Techniques for Overcoming Guilt

After guilt has served its useful purpose it must be mitigated if it does not go away on its own immediately. Here are a few techniques to employ if you find yourself constantly dealing with guilt.

What to Do Mentally

• ·         Allow yourself to express genuine sorrow or grief. Acknowledge this feeling and be willing to change your actions and behavior and, in turn, change your mind.
• ·         Ask if the values you are judging yourself by are values you agree with. If they are the values most likely benefit everyone so make the necessary adjustments. If not, question the motives behind the so called value as it may only serve to benefit others (e.g. manipulators).
• ·         Know and understand that remorse is healthy if it causes you to perform right actions.
• ·         Prayer has powerful therapeutic effects on the body and mind. Learning how to release chronic negative feelings especially guilt not only relieves a person of those feelings but helps to oxygenate the body and reduce blood pressure.
• ·         If prayer is not really for you then give meditation a try for the same reasons stated above. Calming the mind, slowing the breathing and oxygenating the body does a world of good for mental health and well-being while providing clarity on the matters at hand.

What to Do Physically

• ·         Breathing exercises are a phenomenal way to clear the mind and help cope with or be rid of chronic guilt. When combined with movements or stretches the mind tends to free itself more quickly gradually moving to a more positive and effective interaction with guilt. Some of those exercises can include

o   Yoga in its various forms. Find the one that speaks to you and stick with it.

o   Tai Chi

o   Qigong

o   Acupressure

• ·         Physical exercise will help to clear the mind while relieving the body of stress hormones. The increased energy and blood flow to the brain will allow for improved clarity as to what should be (or shouldn't be) done. The rush you get from the release of endorphins is nice too!

Indeed, there is much more out there that would be of great benefit to those suffering with constant guilt but beginning with these suggestions is as good a place to start as any. Be well!