How do you handle the guilt and soul-crushing feeling when thinking about past teenage mistakes that you are now horrified of. I feel a combination of fear of future consequences because of said actions, guilt that I did those actions, and shame that I hurt people and am a bad person.
I feel the exact same way on so many levels. It’s really hard especially when you wanna show people you have become a better person since then. But mistakes and actions that have already past is not a prison sentence, it’s a lesson and it’s ok to be sad about it. But once you acknowledge it and tell yourself you have improved since then and are different, it always helps
@Henlee I also feel guilty of stupid stuff I have done and some stuff ive done and said I still think about and feel terrible especially with friends and family, but once you start trusting and telling yourself that you are not the same person you once were the more true it becomes
I feel the exact same way! When I say it to my friends they are like all teenagers sneak out or hook up with people, it’s normal. But to me I feel like a terrible daughter for lying to my parents, I worry that I did something bad that will come back and haunt me. I feel immense guilt for it years later. Those actions were very out of character for me. I am a rule follower and not one to be crazy but I had a little rebellious faze my senior year of high school and I feel like if people knew they wouldn’t believe me because that just is not who I am but I get so worried people would think I am a bad person because of the few stupid things I did as a teenager. I cannot seem to get rid of the guilt and shame. I feel like I don’t deserve good things in life because of it.
@Anonymous I can definitely relate. Looking back I just feel so much guilt and shame. I should've known better
Hey! This is pretty much one of my current themes as of now, I can’t stop torturing myself about my past mistakes (specially those during my teenage years) and the cycle doesn’t seem to stop. So I totally understand you. I like to think that the fact that we recognise those “mistakes” makes us somebody different from who we used to be. It’s a simple approach, but a really useful one in certain situations. I also get the future consequences worry quite a lot, more than I’d like to admit. As a side question, when do these thoughts appear? Do they get triggered by something?
@anonymous_purple💜 They are constantly there. Just always playing. I've even been having nightmares due to my fears of the future
@Anonymous I see. Well, I can relate a lot, and it’s a cycle that never seems to stop. Have you tried therapy? I’m asking because real event themes work a little differently.
@anonymous_purple💜 I am in therapy right now (I've been doing it since January) and I honestly feel like I haven't made that much improvement
@Anonymous That sounds upsetting 😕. Well, all I can offer you is support, since this is pretty much what i’m also going through. Whenever I read these posts I always try to pick on my own mind saying: see? we’re not the only ones!
@anonymous_purple💜 That's true! Thanks for being here. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one (although it sucks for both of us).
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