survival guilt
Survivor's unearned shame
Survival guilt is the psychological burden felt by someone who has lived through a catastrophe, war, or tragedy that killed others.
Survivors may feel they didn't deserve to live when others died, or that they should have done more to save them: He struggled with survival guilt for years after the accident.
Also called survivor's guilt.
- shamePainful awareness of failure
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- left behindAbandoned or forgotten
haunted · burden · why me · flashback · loss · death · loved ones · aftermath · coping · therapy · mental health · support group · nightmares · blame · anguish · witness · accident · disaster
- captivity traumaPTSD, Stockholm syndrome, learned helplessness, trauma bonding, captivity
survival guiltrelief
Easing of distress
gratitude · celebration of life · thankfulness · elation · deliverance
survival guiltself-acceptance
Approval of oneself
self-forgiveness · blamelessness · absolution · innocence · self-compassion
survival guiltinner peace
Mental and emotional tranquility
post-traumatic growth · healing · closure · self-worth · recovery
survival, guilt, survive, survivor, surviving, survived, survivable, survivalist, survivalism