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How to handle guilt and regret?
Recently feeling very guilty about some decisions and regretting very much. That's why having anxiety. Day time it is all good but at night it
hits hard. I like to cry or shout to myself.
What to do to overcome that?
And
Why do we feel this way?
Answers (18)
Hi
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psychotherapy session
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practo video consultation
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Guilt is a normal response when we have some wrong decisions. But it is not a disease, rather our brains way of telling us what we did wrong.
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If you are not able to overcome guilt and want to talk, you can approach a mental health specialist.
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Youâve asked two good questions, so let me take the âwhyâ first, because understanding it often eases some of the distress.
Guilt is meant to be useful. Itâs the mindâs signal that something matters to us and may need repair. Regret, though, often uses hindsight: we judge a past decision with information we didnât have at the time it was made. Thatâs why it can feel so harsh.
Night hits harder for a few reasons. During the day, work and people keep the mind busy. At night, the distractions stop, youâre tired, and your ability to manage emotions is lower. So the mind replays the same thoughts again and again; this is called rumination. Crying or shouting to yourself is your body trying to release that built-up pressure. Itâs understandable, and it also tells you the feelings need a better outlet.
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Set aside 15â20 minutes in the early evening as âreflection time.â Write down the decision, what you knew back then, and why you chose what you did. If a thought comes at night, tell yourself, âIâll look at this tomorrow at my reflection time.â Ask yourself whether anything can be repaired, such as an apology, a conversation, or a change going forward. If it can, plan one small step. If it canât, the work is self-forgiveness rather than fixing. If this has gone on for more than a few weeks or affects your sleep or daily life, consider a few sessions with a psychologist. Guilt and rumination respond well to CBT and compassion-focused therapy.
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It is likely depressive disorder. Do consult a psychiatrist for therapy and if needed a course of antidepressants for recovery. Good luck
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Pls reach out for therapy sessions
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Guilt can sometimes be useful because it helps us recognise that something we did was not in line with our values. But when the mind repeatedly replays the same decision without reaching any solution, guilt can turn into anxiety, disturbed sleep, crying spells and emotional exhaustion.
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Ask yourself: “Is there something I can realistically correct?” If yes, focus on one practical step—apologising, making amends or changing what you do in the future.
If the past cannot be changed, try to separate taking responsibility from punishing yourself repeatedly.
Write the thoughts down before bedtime rather than trying to solve everything while lying in bed.
When the same thought returns, remind yourself: “I have already thought about this. Repeating it will not change the event.”
Maintain a regular sleep routine and reduce late-night isolation, excessive scrolling, caffeine and alcohol.
Try to speak to yourself with the same fairness you would offer a close friend who had made a mistake.
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If at any point you develop thoughts of hurting yourself or not wanting to live, please seek urgent help from a nearby emergency service or mental-health professional rather than staying alone with those thoughts.
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It is normal to feel like that and have chaos in mind . To solve this issue need further history and then counselling session can be planned.
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For further you connect on one to one basis
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Hello,
Thank you for sharing your concern here.
It is natural to feel guilt and regret as you would feel comfortable and sure of few decisions.
The more you look at it as learnings from your life experiences the better you see opportunities to improve your approach ahead.
Your mind keeps reestablishing your moral compass at life's various stages which is progressive.
Psychotherapy sessions can help you release your emotions, manage anxiety and heal progressively to start afresh with a balanced state of mind.
You can consult for further professional guidance.
I wish you holistic wellness.
Happy Healthy Living!
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Hello, you made a decision at a certain situation in a certain mindset. Since you are regretting I believe the consequences have been bad. Since you cannot undo what you already did, the best way forward is to think of ways to eliminate or reduce the impact. Your overthinking and regret should not reduce your ability to make a well analysed plan to mitigate the bad effects of your decision
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Fix up an appointment so that we can go over it in detail and work out a way to reduce your guilt and anxiety due to the guilt
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Hi. Will need further history regarding the same to advise appropriately. Consult online for treatment
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For you to overcome these feelings and anxiety first we need to understand the situation and context in which you took certain decisions. If some conflict is there in our mind it can result into anxiety symptoms. However there is no need to worry. You can consult a psychiatrist.
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You probably don't need medications just talking to a professional might help.
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"Hi there, I understand that seeking help can feel overwhelming, but you’ve already taken the first brave step. I can guide you with a clear treatment plan tailored just for you, so you can feel better and regain control over your life. You can reach me directly on WhatsApp for quick support on seven zero eight two zero two two zero six two."
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Mr. John Zachariah
Psychologist
16 yrs exp
Ernakulam
Consult a psychologist or psychotherapist
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8589853*765
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Dr. Kamal Kishore Verma
Psychiatrist
18 yrs exp
Agra
Consult
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Dr. Archana Agarwal
Psychiatrist
1 yrs exp
Bikaner
Thank you for sharing this. I know it isn't always easy to talk about personal struggles, so I'm glad you reached out.
I would recommend a detailed psychiatric consultation to understand the underlying cause and discuss the best treatment plan for you.
If you need further guidance, feel free to reach on
WhatsApp eight seven four zero eight nine three eight one three.
I'd be happy to help you.
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Dr. Rupali Mohbe (PhD)
Psychologist
26 yrs exp
Ahmedabad
Carrying heavy guilt and regret that strikes worst at night can feel incredibly isolating. This agonising loop of nighttime anxiety and crying closely resembles severe rumination, acute distress or situational depression.
Next Steps
I highly recommend speaking with Dr. Rupali Mohbe, a psychologist. You can book an online or offline appointment via BIRDYME. Her clinic is at 208, CENTRAL, Sangath IPL, Motera, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
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Dr. Deepta
Psychiatrist
11 yrs exp
Chennai
Hi mam,
I am able to empathise with the emotions you are going through. It is normal for us to regret many decisions in life. But we should be able to accept it and overcome so that we can move forward.
Why do we feel regret :
When the outcome of our decisions does not match our expectations, our mind creates alternate versions of reality . We start thinking what if i had chosen something else and my life would have been different.
Why do we feel guilt:
When we put everything as our mistake. I should have done better. I am the reason for my situation etc, this is called self shame and later goes into a loop of catastrophic thinking
Going in this direction has a very high chance of putting you through a depressive disorder.
Please book a consult for therapy so that we are able to help you with the thoughts and symptoms. There are certain techniques and treatments available.
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Ms. Juhi Parashar
Counselling Psychologist
13 yrs exp
Gurgaon
Hi
Guilt and regret are signs that your values are speaking to you, so you're not broken for feeling this. They tend to get louder at night because the day's distractions fall away and your mind finally gets room to replay unfinished business. Crying is a release, not a weakness. To ease it, try a short "worry-and-wrap-up" ritual an hour before bed: write down the decision that's weighing on you, one thing you'd do differently, and one thing you can still do about it. Then close the notebook. Slow breathing (in for 4, out for 6 to 8) and keeping screens away in that last hour can also soften the night-time surge.
Why it hits so hard is where it gets interesting. Guilt can be about what you did, or it can be about who you believe you are because of it, and those two need very different kinds of healing. There may also be an older pattern behind why this particular decision has such a grip on you. A therapy session can help you sort that out and finally let your nights rest. If the shouting or crying ever begins to feel unmanageable, or you have thoughts of harming yourself, please reach out for support right away. Call or WhatsApp: nine two six six seven two six zero six five.
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Hope the detailed response helps
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