Guilt

Eram · Post by **Eram** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:35 pm

Has anyone had success with survivor's guilt? I have led a happy life despite very sick parents. My only sibling has deep problems - emotionally immature and vicious words (much like my abusive father). I got into an arguement with my sibling that lasted for a year and can not seem to get passed the incident. Does anyone have advice on how to deal with survivor's guilt?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:22 pm

I'm afraid I don't really have experience like that. I have something slightly similar in that my parents raised my brother and I in a way that we learned that 'perfect' was good and 'imperfect' was bad. My brother has been over-weight his entire life - thus bad, and I learned from watching how my parents dealed with him (I don't blame them, they did their best with a situation they didn't understand) that he wasn't good enough because he was fat. So I struggled to be perfect so that I'd be 'good enough'.

He and I both have unique relationships with my parents. He is distant and detached. I am much closer and forgiving. I think it is because I understand what happened and he doesn't and isn't interested in exploring it.

I hope someone with experience closer to your own will respond!