Every year, I give myself the same gift: guilt. Did I eat too much? Spend too much—or not enough? Did I drink too much at the party or fail to create the perfect holiday for my kids?
The season meant for joy and gratitude often comes with guilt. But what if, this year, we gave ourselves something different? Imagine a holiday free of guilt—a season where joy truly takes center stage.
How Guilt Affects Your Body and Mind
We all know guilt as that heavy, nagging feeling that pulls us down when we feel we’ve fallen short. But guilt isn’t just a mental weight—it also takes a toll on your body. Research shows that guilt sets off a mix of physical responses from your autonomic nervous system (ANS), the part of your body that handles your fight-or-flight instincts and your ability to relax.
Sheramy Tsai
Author
Sheramy Tsai, BSN, RN, is a seasoned nurse with a decade-long writing career. An alum of Middlebury College and Johns Hopkins, Tsai combines her writing and nursing expertise to deliver impactful content. Living in Vermont, she balances her professional life with sustainable living and raising three children.
