Why Do I Beat Myself Up?

United States
September 16, 2017 2:47pm CST
People make mistakes all the time. I know I do. If I argue with someone, and I find out I'm wrong, I normally apologize. Then the guilt and the regrets kick in. I ask myself how I could have been so stupid. I ruminate for a long time about how embarrassed I am, and nothing seems to make me feel better. Then I start feeling like a complete failure and I can do nothing right. The guilt is like a small snowball going downhill, then gets bigger and bigger until it becomes an avalanche. I am overwhelmed with feelings of worthlessness. I need to find a better way to deal with this. The other day, I had an argument with someone I love, and I said some things I shouldn't have said and it had nothing to do with what he and I were arguing about. I said certain things because I was hurting, and I don't know how to stop that. How do you cope with the guilt after hurting someone's feelings?
9 people like this
6 responses
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
17 Sep 17
I try to remember the bad feelings later -- and that seems to help me from saying things that I shouldn't. In the end though, we are all just human
1 person likes this
@peachpurple (13961)
• Malaysia
17 Sep 17
Either say sorry or if you can't do it, just do something special for him/her and try to pretend that nothing had happened
1 person likes this
@artemeis (4194)
• China
14 Dec 17
I believe if you believe that you are sincere with your apologies I don't think there is any point of harboring regrets. Feelings may be hurt but I am sure accepting and admitting the mistake is good enough for me to move on. It will be on the other party's part on how to move on since the decision solely lies on their end.
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
18 Sep 17
Yeah, that's a really good question. I haven't figured that part out either even when they say not to worry about it, naturally I do.
@lovebuglena (44721)
• Staten Island, New York
16 Sep 17
Sometimes when we are upset or angry, we say or do things we don't necessarily mean. And we later regret it. Then we have to apologize and let that person know we didn't mean what we did or said. Some may forgive us and forget about it. Others may hold that hurt inside them and not have the same relationship with us ever again.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (117146)
• Anniston, Alabama
18 Sep 17
The first thing you need to do is control yourself, then you will not say anything you will regret and feel bad about later. You can never take those words back so do not say them.