LibraryScenariosWhy survival doesn't automatically mean gratitude
Scenario

Why survival doesn't automatically mean gratitude

I feel like I should be grateful to be alive after the accident but mostly I am just angry about everything I lost.

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More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

The expectation to feel grateful for survival can invalidate the very real losses that trauma brings, creating shame around legitimate grief.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Acute illness and recovery?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.