self-blame
Faulting oneself harshly
Self-blame is the act of holding oneself responsible for something that went wrong, whether or not that responsibility is warranted.
It often involves harsh internal criticism and can become a habitual response to setbacks or failures.
She couldn't shake the self-blame after the accident, even though it wasn't her fault.
While some self-blame can motivate improvement, excessive self-blame tends to be psychologically damaging and is associated with depression and anxiety.
Moral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- regretSorrow over past actions
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
internalization · overthinking · remorse · cognitive distortion · beating yourself up · mental anguish · worthlessness
Obligation for one's actions
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
confession · wrongdoing · moral injury · culpability · amends · forgiveness · redemption · sin
Distress from enduring when others perished
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbacksInvoluntary vivid memory episodes
- internalized shameDisgrace absorbed as identity
- fawningExcessive insincere flattery
victim mentality · hypervigilance · dissociation · coping mechanism · learned helplessness · retraumatization · inner child · healing journey
Romantic relationship's termination
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
- conflictOpposition between parties
estrangement · misunderstanding · betrayal · apology · reconciliation · family dysfunction · people-pleasing · enmeshment
guilt
Moral self-reproach
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- ruminationProlonged, repetitive thinking
- regretSorrow over past actions
introspection · internalization · overthinking · remorse · cognitive distortion · beating yourself up · mental anguish · worthlessness
accountability
Obligation for one's actions
- responsibilityState of being answerable
- conscienceInternal moral sense
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
penance · confession · wrongdoing · moral injury · culpability · amends · forgiveness · redemption · sin · transgression
survivor guilt
Distress from enduring when others perished
- PTSDChronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbacksInvoluntary vivid memory episodes
- internalized shameDisgrace absorbed as identity
victim mentality · fawning · hypervigilance · dissociation · coping mechanism · learned helplessness · retraumatization · inner child · healing journey · therapy
breakup
Romantic relationship's termination
- divorceLegal end of matrimony
- rejectionDenial of acceptance
- abandonmentAct of leaving permanently
conflict · estrangement · misunderstanding · betrayal · apology · reconciliation · family dysfunction · people-pleasing · enmeshment · codependency
- Blamefault, culprit, accusation, guilt-tripping, finger-pointing
- insecuritiesinsecurity, inadequacy, inferiority, inferiority complex, unworthiness
- coping mechanismsrepression, denial, projection, sublimation, rationalization
- moral emotionsguilt, shame, remorse, moral guilt, conscience
- self-loathinginner critic, worthlessness, unworthiness, toxic shame, beating yourself up
- guilt reactionsremorse, regret, contrition, apology, confession
self-blameblame-shifting
Attributing fault to others
blaming others · scapegoating · finger-pointing · projection · passing the buck
self-blameself-praise
Lauding one's own merits
self-congratulation · self-compassion · self-forgiveness · self-acceptance · self-kindness
self-blameself-justification
Defending one's own actions
making excuses · denial · rationalization · defensiveness · excuse-making
self, blame, selves, selfish, selfhood, selfless, selfishly, selflessness, blamed