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Question: When I look back on my past, I feel so guilty. How can I deal with this? Answer: I believe it is essential to consider the spiritual, physical, mental and social elements when dealing with guilt. One of the first things you can do is to make sure you identify and discontinue the behavior that caused the feelings of guilt. Repentance is a primary ingredient in the growth process. If you have wronged another person, going and asking their forgiveness is an important step in taking responsibility for the offense and often contributes to repairing the relationship. Accepting God's grace and forgiveness are also key ingredients to growth. Sometimes we feel like our faults, sins, etc. are worse than anyone else's but we need to keep in mind that no one is beyond God's grace and forgiveness. I John 1:9 says, "But if we confess our sins to God He will keep His promise and do what is right. He will forgive us our sins and make us clean from our wrong doing. Sometimes excessive guilt is a symptom of an underlying problem such as anxiety. In those cases therapy along with appropriate medication can mean the difference between fretful living and successful living. For additional information, contact the Rice - Lewis Clinic. Answered by: Ron McCafferty, M.S.W. |