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If you live with anxiety, chances are you feel guilty all the time.

Guilty for disappointing people. Guilty for saying no. Guilty for wanting something different. Guilty for existing.

Episode Summary

In this episode, Jessica breaks down the truth about guilt — and it’s not what you think.

You’ll learn how guilt is another way anxiety tries to protect you, why it shows up in situations where you’ve done absolutely nothing wrong, and how to start seeing guilt for what it really is: a safety strategy, not a moral failing.

Jessica shares real-life examples (holiday plans, food waste, posting a selfie, and even existential guilt) to help you understand how anxiety uses guilt to push you toward the “safe,” “right,” or “expected” thing — even when that thing hurts you.
When you understand what guilt is actually doing, everything changes.

In This Episode, You'll Learn

• Why anxious people feel guilty all the time
• How guilt functions as a protection strategy, not a moral failing
• How anxiety scans your life for threats and misinterprets normal choices as dangerous
• Why guilt feels like absolute proof that you're doing something wrong
• The difference between real guilt and anxiety-driven guilt
• What existential guilt is — and why it’s so common for anxious people
• How guilt tries to push you toward “safe,” expected, socially approved choices

Key Quotes

“I haven't met a person with anxiety who doesn't experience guilt pretty much all the time.”

“Anxiety uses guilt to make you feel bad so that you'll supposedly be the way you need to be to stay safe.”

“Anxiety is a threat detector. It is not a good-outcome detector.”

“Sometimes the guilt gets so deep it feels like guilt for existing.”

“Guilt is one of the things that can really get us stuck because it’s so convincing.”

“Guilt is a way that anxiety is showing up to protect you. It's not you — it's anxiety.”

Main Takeaway

Overthinking isn’t a character flaw or bad habit — it’s anxiety reacting to a perceived threat in an attempt to keep you safe. Understanding why it happens immediately reduces shame, increases clarity, and gives you the power to begin shifting out of spiraling into calmer, clearer thinking.

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is for anyone who:

• Feels guilty constantly, even when nothing bad happened
• Overthinks decisions because they fear disappointing others
• Experiences deep or existential guilt
• Struggles to trust themselves
• Wants a grounded, compassionate explanation for their guilt
• Wants to stop guilt from controlling their choices and self-worth

Connect with Jessica

Instagram: @jessica_richards_counseling

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Enjoyed This Episode?

If this episode helped you see guilt differently, please share the show, leave a rating, or reach out. Everyone deserves clarity and compassion.

*Disclaimer* This show is for information and inspiration. It is not professional mental health counseling or medical advice. If you're struggling, please reach out to a mental health or medical professional.

Topics Covered in This Episode

• why guilt feels so intense
• anxiety and guilt connection
• why anxious people feel guilty
• guilt as a safety response
• understanding chronic guilt
• anxious guilt vs true guilt
• fear of disappoin