Surviving the Guilt

90% of people who had survived an event where others had died are reported of experiencing guilt, shame, and depression, blaming themselves for what had happened, questioning their existence, wondering why they didn’t die too, getting hit by painful flashbacks of the traumatic event and sometimes being led to suicide.

The only way for people with survivor’s guilt to survive is by following these guidelines which we summed up in three points:

1. Acceptance

Accepting what had happened, accepting that they haven’t escaped death, that it just wasn’t their time yet, and accepting the fact that it was never their fault.

2. Reaching out

Reaching out to therapists, connecting with others, speaking about what happened with detail for one last time to be able to let go and move on peacefully. Hopefully it will no longer burden them and make them feel bad for surviving . 

3. Doing good

And by doing good, they need to do good for themselves by doing good for others: Donating, volunteering and educating people about their experience. All these acts will help them get over it completely and soon the feeling of guilt will fade away.

08008880700 is the Egyptian Ministry of Health’s hotline for mental health and support services. Save it for good causes, it may one day be useful to you or someone you know.

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