What emotional response is typically associated with survivor guilt?

Survivor guilt is an emotional response that often occurs in individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one, particularly when the survivor feels that they should have been able to prevent the death or that they did not deserve to survive while others did. This guilt manifests as a profound emotional burden, where the survivor grapples with feelings of sadness and a sense of responsibility for the loss. It can compel them to question their own worthiness in the face of their loved one's death, leading to a conflicted emotional state that is characterized by sorrow and guilt.

This emotional response contrasts sharply with feelings of happiness or joy, which are generally not associated with survivor guilt. Instead, survivor guilt signifies a complex interplay of grief, self-reflection, and often regret, making it a distinctly challenging aspect of the grieving process. Recognizing and addressing survivor guilt is essential for emotional healing in the aftermath of a loss.