All the responses of grief seem to conspire to convince us that our world is out of control. Indeed, we ourselves may feel out of control. We may feel out of control or powerless to cope with all the changes that this loss will bring to our lives. We may also feel that we are powerless in regard to our own emotions. If only I had done more.
Guilt is a common response in grief.
Sometimes it's not easy to let go of guilt. Feeling powerless is such a desolate feeling that we will often do most anything to avoid that emotion. We may even feel guilty. It's difficult to see beyond this troubled time. The loss is too recent, the pain too intense.