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I decided to explain some things when it comes to why she acts a certain way when it comes to stuff. Plus I want people to understand this mental disorder. Which is also tied with PTSD.
What is Survivor Guilt?
Survivor guilt is a particular type of guilt that may develop in people who have survived a life-threatening situation. Individuals who believe it is unfair that they survived when others died and/or believe they did not do enough to save the lives of others may come to experience survivor guilt after trauma or a catastrophic event.
Symptoms Include:
> Nightmares/Difficulty Sleeping > Flashbacks > Loss of Motivation > Sense of numbness
But the biggest symptom that explains why she acts a certain way... Individuals may wonder why they lived when other people died, why they got lucky when others did not, whether they could or should have done anything more to prevent the death of others, and whether others suffered during the event.
This is why Stephanie is always questioning why it wasn't her. Why she survived and not the other person? It happened after Bucky's fall from the train, her crash in the ice, and what happened to Nat and Tony. It's why she doesn't sleep much, why she questions her survival of it all. But there is a good side to this mental disorder of her's.
Those who survive may transform their feelings of guilt into a sense of increased meaning and purpose. They may also use survivor guilt as a way to cope with the feelings of helplessness and powerlessness that can occur in traumatic situations. For some, survivor guilt may also represent a connection to those who died, as feelings of guilt may keep the memories of the deceased alive, at least for a time.
Hopefully, you guys understand all of this, plus I wanted to flesh her out a bit more and acknowledge a disorder that many people do suffer from. Thank you!
