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Struggling With A Strange Form Of GuiltFeelingsStruggling With A Strange Form Of Guilt<div class="ExternalClassACA4410BD73E494DBF07931EB4CB8A5A"><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">​<span style="">I've been struggling a lot with a strange form of guilt recently. Over the past few years, a string of events have occurred, one after the other: I almost lost my dad to a heart attack, I moved 2500 miles across the country in two weeks, my parents were involved in a car accident (they both came out alive. Mom was pretty badly hurt, though.), my mom had three strokes in succession, and my grandmother was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer. Although no one has died yet, I've developed anxiety and depression issues. I've found myself constantly thinking about death; It feels like I have to brace myself for another tragedy (like, a real one. with dead people.) every minute of every day. I've started to mourn the death of people in my life who are in perfect health. I'll walk around all day with feelings of piercing remorse over their "tragic passing" as I literally stare them right in the face and have conversations with them. Most of the time I feel like I'm even dead myself. I'll ghost around school hardly aware of myself. I can't think when I'm in this state; it literally feels like I don't exist at all, or at least not anymore. I'll look around in wonder at the way people aren't affected at all by my "absence", or maybe worse, presence. What can I do? ​​</span></span></p></div><div class="ExternalClassAAC800A8557A427F8F5BA1209EF43E6B"><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">We are sorry that you are going through this emotional grief.  We truly don't know if you will be able to turn things around by yourself of whether you will need some guidance and support of a counselor.  You have gotten so deep into the mindset that it will be a real test of emotional strength to get out and regain a positive outlook on life.</span></p><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">Because you mentioned you are in school, we recommend that you speak with your school counselor about how you are feeling and ask for recommendations from them.  It may be helpful to talk with your parents about how you are feeling and ask if you could see a counselor in the community or even the pastor at your church.</span></p><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">You have got to get out of this anxious pattern of thoughts and feelings and re-gain your 17 year old life!  Try to begin looking at the good things, keep a blessings list; start with Your Dad survived the heart attack, Both of your parents lived through the car accident, Your mom survived her strokes.  Those are all amazingly GOOD things.  Then start to add blessing that are happening in your daily life.  They can even be little things such as The weather was beautiful today, My teacher was kind today, The ice cream​ that I had for dessert was delicious.  As you focus on the good things in your life, hopefully you will find yourself more engaged in your life. We have a couple of links that we would like you to read:</span></p><p><a href="/Pages/Types-of-Distorted-Thinking.aspx"><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/v2/Pages/Types-of-Distorted-Thinking.aspx</span></a><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style=""> </span></p><p><a href="/Pages/11-Ways-To-Combat-Anxiety.aspx"><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org/v2/Pages/11-Ways-To-Combat-Anxiety.aspx</span></a><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style=""> </span></p><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">​We will do what we can to help you but we think that finding someone who is available to meet with you weekly would be the best pattern to follow while changing things around.  </span></p><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">Sincerely,</span></p><p><span class="ms-rteFontFace-1 ms-rteFontSize-3 ms-rteThemeForeColor-2-4" style="">Pat, Counselor </span></p></div>17

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