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What Is Guilt-Tripping and When Is it Best to Seek Counseling?

11 November 2019

Lieve Boekholt

When one person guilt trips another, they are typically trying to make that person feel guilty about something specific to win an argument or to get the person to do what they want them to do. Unfortunately, guilt-tripping is quite common within relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and even friends.

However, there are people that are naturally very manipulative. If you often feel guilty or if you have noticed that you have been laying guilt trips on the people in your life, you should start going to counseling to find out why you are going through what it is that you are currently experiencing. 

You Are Trying To Control a Situation

One of the reasons why you might be guilty of guilt-tripping someone in your life is that you are attempting to have more control over a situation. For example, if your partner wants to go out with friends, you might start making him or her feel guilty for doing so while complaining about not getting to spend enough time with your partner. While it is important for you to get plenty of quality time with your partner, you should also have no problem with your partner spending time with friends. If you are guilt-tripping your partner into staying home and being miserable, it can create more problems within the relationship in the future. When you go to counseling, you can learn how to avoid this behavior while realizing that you do not need to have complete control over every situation.

You Want Someone to Do Things Your Way

Guilt-tripping a person is considered a form of manipulation. You make the person feel guilty about making decisions that they feel are best for them. When they feel guilty about making such a decision, they start to second-guess themselves and might even change their mind about doing something, such as taking on a new job opportunity or getting a gym membership. You should never want to make another person feel guilty about the decisions they are making to better themselves or to do something they genuinely love. If you are trying to get someone to do what you would rather them do by guilt-tripping them, you are certainly in the wrong.

Some people learn to guilt-trip others because they have been through it themselves and have had to deal with the manipulation from their loved ones in the past. If this is something you have experienced and you have noticed your behavior toward someone you love, you should seek advice from resources such as Supportiv to get advice on how to avoid guilt-tripping while coping with different situations adequately.

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