What Is a Guilt Complex?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCharacteristicsCausesTypesDealing With Excessive Feelings of GuiltSelf-Care Strategies

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Characteristics

Causes

Types

Dealing With Excessive Feelings of Guilt

Self-Care Strategies

Close

A guilt complex refers to a persistent belief that you have done something wrong or that you will do something wrong. In addition to constant feelings of guilt and worry, a guilt complex can also lead to feelings of shame and anxiety.

While a guilt complex may be the result of real harm that a person may have caused, it can also center on imagined or perceived guilt. People may think that they have done something wrong, even though they haven’t. In other cases, they may overestimate their own role in a situation, believing that their own minor mistakes had a much more serious impact than they really did.

It is important to note that while a guilt complex can be distressing, it is not recognized as a separate condition in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5).

Excessive and inappropriate guilt is associated with a number of mental health conditions includingdepression,obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), andpost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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Guilt is described as a self-conscious emotion that involves negative evaluations of the self, feelings of distress, and feelings of failure.Some of the signs that you might be coping with a guilt complex include:

A guilt complex can also lead to feelings of anxiety, depression, and stress including difficulty sleeping, loss of interest, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and social withdrawal.

A guilt complex can have a serious impact on a person’s overall well-being. Over time, people may begin to develop a sense of inadequacy that makes it difficult for them to pursue goals. They may feel that they don’t deserve to move on and may engage in behaviors designed to punish themselves for their mistakes.

Feelings of shame are another common consequence of a guilt complex.As a result of this shame, people may isolate themselves from others. This can have a devastating impact on relationships and make it difficult to find strongsocial support.

There are a number of different factors that can contribute to a guilt complex. Some of these include:

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There are many different forms of guilt that can contribute to a guilt complex. Some of these include:

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It is important to get help in order to protect your mental well-being and quality of life. If you are experiencing symptoms of guilt that are interfering with your daily life and causing distress, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. There are different treatment options that may help you cope with a guilt complex.

Medications

Your doctor may prescribeantidepressantsor anti-anxiety medications to help you cope with symptoms of depression or anxiety, but they may also recommend psychotherapy.

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Psychotherapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)is one approach that involves learning to recognize the negative thoughts that lead to feelings of guilt. By learning to replace these thoughts with more positive ones, people may be able to let go of the burdens that are contributing to their guilt complex.

CBT can also help you to develop a better understanding of yourself, including youremotionsand attitudes. When something happens that may lead to guilt, you’ll be better equipped to deal with it in the moment and avoid some of the cognitive distortions that contribute to the development of guilt.

Research suggests that guilt associated with trauma can contribute to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts, so seeking help for these feelings of guilt is essential.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact theNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineat988for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

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If you are trying to cope with persistent feelings of guilt, there are things that you can do that may make it easier to manage these difficult emotions. Some strategies that may help you cope with a guilt complex include:

Reframe the Situation

If you find yourself only focusing on negative thoughts, consider ways to think differently about the situation. Were there other factors that played a role? What can you do differently in the future? Finding a way to shift your focus from the negative to more realistic, positive thoughts may help you move past your feelings of self-recrimination.

Forgive Yourself

Learning how to practiceself-forgivenesscan be an important tool for letting go of guilt. Forgiving yourself doesn’t mean letting yourself off the hook if you’ve made a mistake or caused someone harm; instead, it’s about taking responsibility, allowing yourself some time to express remorse, making amends, and then finding a way to move on.

Talk to Someone

Sharing your feelings with a close friend can sometimes be helpful. Social support can play a pivotal role in coping with difficult emotions, so maintaining your relationships with friends and loved ones is important.

If you struggle to talk to your loved ones about your feelings of guilt or if they are not providing the type of support you need, discussing your feelings with a mental health professional can also be helpful. Traditional face-to-face therapy sessions are one option, but online therapy may also be a convenient option that you might want to consider.

Get Help NowWe’ve tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of thebest online therapy programsincluding Talkspace, Betterhelp, and Regain. Find out which option is the best for you.

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Guilt isn’t necessarily an unhealthy emotion. It can help you learn to identify things you want to change and find ways to mend relationships you may have harmed. Feelings of guilt can serve as a way to identify and correct social transgressions that threaten relationships with other people.

It is when these feelings become persistent and overwhelming that it is important to seek professional help. Talk to your doctor or a mental health professional if you are experiencing symptoms of excessive guilt or other symptoms of depression.

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4 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tilghman-Osborne C, Cole DA, Felton JW.Definition and measurement of guilt: Implications for clinical research and practice.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(5):536-546. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.007Miceli M, Castelfranchi C.Reconsidering the differences between shame and guilt.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(3):710-733. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i3.1564Tripp JC, McDevitt-Murphy ME.Trauma-related guilt mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation in OEF/OIF/OND veterans.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2017;47(1):78-85. doi:10.1111/sltb.12266Cryder CE, Springer S, Morewedge CK.Guilty feelings, targeted actions.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012;38(5):607-618. doi:10.1177/0146167211435796

4 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Tilghman-Osborne C, Cole DA, Felton JW.Definition and measurement of guilt: Implications for clinical research and practice.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(5):536-546. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.007Miceli M, Castelfranchi C.Reconsidering the differences between shame and guilt.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(3):710-733. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i3.1564Tripp JC, McDevitt-Murphy ME.Trauma-related guilt mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation in OEF/OIF/OND veterans.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2017;47(1):78-85. doi:10.1111/sltb.12266Cryder CE, Springer S, Morewedge CK.Guilty feelings, targeted actions.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012;38(5):607-618. doi:10.1177/0146167211435796

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Tilghman-Osborne C, Cole DA, Felton JW.Definition and measurement of guilt: Implications for clinical research and practice.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(5):536-546. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.007Miceli M, Castelfranchi C.Reconsidering the differences between shame and guilt.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(3):710-733. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i3.1564Tripp JC, McDevitt-Murphy ME.Trauma-related guilt mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation in OEF/OIF/OND veterans.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2017;47(1):78-85. doi:10.1111/sltb.12266Cryder CE, Springer S, Morewedge CK.Guilty feelings, targeted actions.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012;38(5):607-618. doi:10.1177/0146167211435796

Tilghman-Osborne C, Cole DA, Felton JW.Definition and measurement of guilt: Implications for clinical research and practice.Clin Psychol Rev. 2010;30(5):536-546. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2010.03.007

Miceli M, Castelfranchi C.Reconsidering the differences between shame and guilt.Eur J Psychol. 2018;14(3):710-733. doi:10.5964/ejop.v14i3.1564

Tripp JC, McDevitt-Murphy ME.Trauma-related guilt mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation in OEF/OIF/OND veterans.Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2017;47(1):78-85. doi:10.1111/sltb.12266

Cryder CE, Springer S, Morewedge CK.Guilty feelings, targeted actions.Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2012;38(5):607-618. doi:10.1177/0146167211435796

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