What is Guilt?
Guilt and shame are often confused as the same thing, but in fact they are different emotions. Shame refers to a sense of regret or responsibility that relates to one’s self, whereas guilt describes a sense of responsibility or regret for actions we have taken whether accidental or intentional.
We are conditioned to feel guilty from our childhood, in other words it’s a learned emotion when we do something wrong. Feeling guilty for things we have done wrong is not a bad thing, and we can learn from mistakes we make, which is positive and can lead to personal growth. Extreme or chronic guilt can become a problem as it can lead to feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, self-doubt, shame and even lead to feelings of depression or a guilt complex.
What is a Guilt Complex?
A guilt complex is when a person feels a persistent belief that they have either done or will do something wrong. They will feel constantly guilty and worried and this can cause them to feel anxious and have feelings of shame. It can be caused by an imagined or actual harm they think they have done, or believing their actions have caused