self-tormentors
Guilt's willing prisoners
Self-tormentors are people who cause their own suffering through excessive guilt, worry, or dwelling on painful thoughts.
The term suggests someone who punishes themselves psychologically—replaying failures, anticipating disasters, or refusing to forgive themselves for past mistakes.
The self-tormentors among us find ways to ruin even good news.
Deliberate food avoidance
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- flagellationBeating with a whip
hair-shirt · scourging · celibacy · renunciation · austerity · monastic · hermit · discipline
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
- compunctionUneasiness from guilt
penitence · guilt-ridden · rumination · obsessing · dwelling · brooding · anguish · conscience
Pleasure derived from suffering
- neurosisFunctional mental disorder
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
- catastrophizingImagining worst-case outcomes
fasting
Deliberate food avoidance
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
- abstinenceVoluntary forgoing of indulgences
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
flagellation · hair-shirt · scourging · celibacy · renunciation · austerity · monastic · hermit · discipline · spartan
remorse
Guilt for wrongdoing
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- contritionRemorseful state over misdeeds
- regretSorrow over past actions
compunction · penitence · guilt-ridden · rumination · obsessing · dwelling · brooding · anguish · conscience
masochism
Pleasure derived from suffering
- neurosisFunctional mental disorder
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
catastrophizing · overthinking · ruminating · compulsion · martyrdom
self, tormentor, tormentors, selves, selfish, selfishly, selfishness, selfless, selflessly