Trauma-Related Guilt, a Paradoxical Phenomenon

Trauma-related guilt is a kind of remorse that happens after someone has been abused or exposed to a dangerous or violent situation. It can also arise after particularly painful events, such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. The paradox of traumatic guilt is that the victim is the one who feels guilty. However, why should a victim feel guilty? It’s the perpetrator who should feel remorseful.  “The worst guilt is to accept an unearned guilt.”  -Ayn Rand- In fact, it’s often the case that the perpetrators don’t feel any guilt, at least not consciously. They tend…