Most of us have something we feel guilty about that we don't need to. It could be anything, as small as feeling bad for lying about reading the Terms of Service on a website when you haven't, or as big as doubting your choice to cut contact with a toxic person in your life. Neither of these is something bad, but you can get that festering notion that they are.
What's something you feel guilty for?
#21
I've worked past it but, as a kid, I felt guilty about my parent's alcoholism. It wasn't my fault. I couldn't fix it. It messed with my mind my entire childhood as I worked to make sure my younger brother was properly cared for. Therapy was key. I've been hyper-responsible my whole life.
4points
#22
When my older cousin brother(18) asked me(13) to sleep with him, I know it wasn’t my fault, but it still feels like I was the one who did something wrong after he started ignoring me after I said no.
4points
#23
Realising there's absolutely nothing more I can do for my heroin-addict friend.
4points
#24
I easily feel guilty, even for things that aren’t within my control or my fault. One of the earliest ones I remember is feeling guilty for my family abandoning my grandma’s old cat when grandma had to move in permanently with us due to her rapidly declining health. The cat was left at her house because we lived in a rented house which didn’t allow pets. He was being fed by the neighbours but still abandoned.
I was less than 10 years old and according to the family dynamics I had growing up, I had no say in such grown up decisions. My parents love animals but I wish they at least gave a shot at discussing the issue with our house’s landlord. Maybe they could have hit a soft spot with the landlord. As for me I feel guilty for not overly pressing my parents to bring the cat home with us. I should have thrown tantrums or whatever and should have been relentless.
The cat died being run over by a vehicle several years later. He was trying to cross the small dirt road between grandma’s house and the neighbour’s house. He was so old and blind by then. I still can’t recall all this without choking up. I loved that cat and will never not feel like I failed him.
I was less than 10 years old and according to the family dynamics I had growing up, I had no say in such grown up decisions. My parents love animals but I wish they at least gave a shot at discussing the issue with our house’s landlord. Maybe they could have hit a soft spot with the landlord. As for me I feel guilty for not overly pressing my parents to bring the cat home with us. I should have thrown tantrums or whatever and should have been relentless.
The cat died being run over by a vehicle several years later. He was trying to cross the small dirt road between grandma’s house and the neighbour’s house. He was so old and blind by then. I still can’t recall all this without choking up. I loved that cat and will never not feel like I failed him.
4points
#25
For going no contact with my addicted/mentally ill son and brother. I spent five years cleaning them up and getting them on meds multiple times. They lid, cheated, stole, and got violent with me. I ignored my own health problems and they put me in a nursing home way too young. No more. I have disowned they both and I refuse to feel guilty. They made their choices and now I’ve made mine.
3points
#26
Feeling that I'm letting friends/fellow church members down when I don't take part in strenuous physical activities when they ask generally for help, e.g. moving, church work days, etc. I'm 75 and disabled, and I know better, but it bothers me.
3points
#27
Well I know I always did my best for my late daughter but doesn't stop me lying awake at night and feeling guilt that I couldn't just make her better.
It'll be the anniversary of her passing in a couple of days so it's even harder at this time of year.
Another thing I have feelings of guilt about is I'm disabled and have a couple of serious conditions and one of is that I only have 40% lung function so can't breathe well at all. It limits some of the activities I can do with my partner who is very much an outdoors person, the same as I was before I got ill. I feel bad about that, and at the moment I'm recovering from an operation on my blocked carotid artery that was causing me mini strokes and she's having to do pretty much all of the housework for now whereas before I used to do most of it and the cooking. I feel she's not getting me at my best, but it's great to be loved for who I am anyway.
It'll be the anniversary of her passing in a couple of days so it's even harder at this time of year.
Another thing I have feelings of guilt about is I'm disabled and have a couple of serious conditions and one of is that I only have 40% lung function so can't breathe well at all. It limits some of the activities I can do with my partner who is very much an outdoors person, the same as I was before I got ill. I feel bad about that, and at the moment I'm recovering from an operation on my blocked carotid artery that was causing me mini strokes and she's having to do pretty much all of the housework for now whereas before I used to do most of it and the cooking. I feel she's not getting me at my best, but it's great to be loved for who I am anyway.
3points
#28
The state of our planet and climate change. I have one daughter and I feel so sad we are leaving the fallout of climate change for future generations to deal with.
2points
#29
This past December my 6 year old was invited to a friends birthday party that subsequently got canceled because the birthday girl got sick; we had already purchased a gift for her, the party woundup not being rescheduled. So March rolls around & another friend of my daughter & her friend has her birthday party. We got a gift for the March birthday girl, I sent along the gift for the December girl as well & instructed my daughter to give it to her. The March birthday gril really liked the gift for the December girl and she was disappointed it wasn't her gift.
2points
#30
Asking to be paid after I finish a gig. I’ve told them my rate up front and I don’t lie about how long it took, but I still feel like I deserve less.
2points
#31
being ✨bisexual✨.
And I ate the last bit of chocolate ice cream without telling anyone...
And I ate the last bit of chocolate ice cream without telling anyone...
2points
#32
When my older cousin brother(18) asked me(13) to sleep with him, I know it wasn’t my fault, but it still feels like I was the one who did something wrong after he started ignoring me after I said no.
1point
#33
Spending my free time how I want to spend it, even if it's just playing a video game all day, or binge watching. Not being as productive on my off time. I have ADHD, habits are hard to keep, so I do what I can, and try not to feel guilty about what I don't do.
1point
#34
Everything. My husband once told me I'd make a perfect Catholic. He's a former Catholic.
1point
#35
When my older cousin brother(18) asked me(13) to sleep with him, I know it wasn’t my fault, but it still feels like I was the one who did something wrong after he started ignoring me after I said no.
0points
#36
When my older cousin brother(18) asked me(13) to sleep with him, I know it wasn’t my fault, but it still feels like I was the one who did something wrong after he started ignoring me after I said no.
0points
#37
I have two sons (10 and 6). They both want me to spend time with them individually (like most siblings, they fight), which I always do. But when I'm with either one, I feel guilty that I'm not with the other. I also feel guilty that my eldest got all of my attention until his brother came along, and now has to share. And I give myself extra bonus guilt points as I worry that my youngest has always had to share "Dad time". Maybe it's right to feel guilty though?
0points