Tips for Overcoming Survivor Guilt

Counselors who regularly help patients overcome survivor guilt have toolboxes of ideas to help alleviate the problem.

Vicki Kennedy, a licensed clinical social worker who works with the Cancer Support Community in Washington, D.C., and Donna M. Pisano, a psychologist who volunteers with the Cancer Hope Network, recommend the following:

> Recognize that guilt will feel more overwhelming on some days, and when that happens, acknowledge those feelings and find a way to express them. > STRIVE to find gratitude in daily life and focus on what’s good, rather than on the pain and suffering of others.

> Don't socially isolate. Be around friends and family, and get out of the house.

> Practice small acts of kindness. “If you go to chemotherapy and see someone who seems really nervous, hold their hand and give them a smile. That works wonders” for both people involved, Pisano says.

> Exercise, which can help to treat many of the physical symptoms that commonly accompany survivor guilt, including depression and anxiety. “Go for a walk and get some fresh air,” Pisano says. “If you don’t have a lot of strength, walk around your home. Any kind of exercise can be helpful.”