Persistent Guilt
A prolonged and pervasive sense of guilt that extends beyond appropriate remorse, often disproportionate to actual events or circumstances. Commonly associated with depression, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
Quick answer
Persistent guilt (ICD-10: R45.1; ICD-11: MB24.7) is a core feature of depressive and trauma-related conditions. Distinguished from healthy remorse by its disproportionate, unremitting quality. CBT and compassion-focused therapy have the strongest evidence. Red flag: guilt with suicidal ideation requires urgent assessment.
Recognition
Do any of these feel familiar?
Ruminating on past actions or perceived failures
Feeling responsible for events outside one's control
Difficulty forgiving oneself despite rational reassurance
Physical heaviness or tension associated with guilty feelings
Guilt that resurfaces repeatedly without resolution
What is Persistent Guilt?
A prolonged and pervasive sense of guilt that extends beyond appropriate remorse, often disproportionate to actual events or circumstances. Commonly associated with depression, trauma, and anxiety disorders.
Approaches Commonly Explored
Commonly explored for conditions related to Persistent Guilt, grouped by mechanism — select your subtype above to highlight the most relevant path.
How to use these approaches
Most people begin with Stabilise approaches, then progress toward Resolve and Sustain.
Cognitive patterns, emotional processing, and stress response.
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