Can guilt cause physical pain?

Guilt is a common emotion that most people experience at some point in life. It typically arises when we engage in a behavior or action that is out of line with our personal values or that we later judge to be wrong for some reason.

Guilt can be confused with shame and is even commonly confused in the literature on the subject, but the two differ. Guilt can be thought of as “I did a bad thing,” which leaves us free to correct our actions with an apology, amends, or simply doing differently in the future. Shame may be thought of as “I am bad,” which removes the ability to make any changes because we’re inherently “bad” in this scenario.

Guilt can be a beneficial emotion that leads us to examine behaviors and make positive changes. It can also contribute to overall feelings of sadness, depression, and more, however. Emotions have physiological responses in the body, resulting in different physical experiences like aches or pains or even rapid heartbeat.

Embodied cognition is a field of psychology that explores how thoughts and emotions interact with the body to guide behavior. Guilt is often a part of regulating moral or ethical behavior, so it makes sense that many people describe guilt as a “weight” on their bodies in some way. Researchers have found that people who experience guilt frequently interpret the feeling of weight on their bodies, which can lead to tension and cause some pain.

If you’re experiencing guilt, take time to determine if it is tied to a specific event or events in your life. If possible, examine your behavior since the events, and look to see how you may have changed in behavior since those events. Chances are, you have. When guilt becomes overwhelming or is accompanied by feelings of sadness, regret, hopelessness, grief, anxiety, or interruptions to your basic routine or ability to function, talk with a licensed mental health professional. A licensed counselor can help determine if you may be experiencing guilt alone or if a larger issue is in play and work with you to create a plan of approach to resolve the issues you’re facing.

If you’re experiencing thoughts of suicide, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

 at 1-800-272-8255.