Guilt is an emotion that has a deep and multifaceted impact on a person’s behavior, body, and emotional world. It often arises from the feeling that we have hurt someone, failed our own expectations, violated moral norms and standards we developed through life, or acted irresponsibly and abused the trust given to us. In the AEQ method, we view guilt as a fundamental emotion that affects the ability to move and breathe, and more broadly, the overall functioning of the body. The influence of guilt is not only emotional, but also shows up in bodily tension and increased influence of fear on thoughts, decisions, and actions. Guilt can have either an acute or chronic effect on a person and their relationships.
Guilt as an Emotion and Its Role
The proper and emotionally mature use of a real sense of guilt in the body directs us toward recognizing inappropriate or harmful actions and functions as an internal compass that helps us correct mistakes and maintain or improve relationships. However, guilt often becomes chronic, internalized, and no longer directed toward correcting the consequences of mistakes. At that point, it begins to hinder the individual’s ability to relax, express their feelings, and act effectively in life.
In the AEQ method, guilt is understood as an emotion accompanied by bodily responses such as tension in the neck, chest, and abdomen. These are parts of the body where the most unexpressed emotions accumulate, especially those that arise from the belief that we acted inappropriately or failed to meet others’ expectations and should have responded aggressively to change the situation and restore order. If we cannot, must not, or do not know how to do this, we have no other choice but to retain this energy inside and transform the acute guilt into chronic guilt.
The Physiological Impact of Guilt
Guilt can become rooted in the body only with the help of sensory-motor amnesia, which means that the body must lose the ability to feel, recognize, and express certain emotions and respond to specific sensations. As a result, a person becomes incapable of properly perceiving their actions and their consequences on the environment, turning guilt into a chronic influence on themselves. This leads to muscle tension, especially in the upper body, inability to breathe deeply, and a constant feeling of tightness.
Guilt also affects the autonomic nervous system, which regulates basic bodily functions. In the AEQ method, we observe how chronic guilt inhibits the body’s self-healing capacity, as it excessively activates the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for fight or flight), which over time leads to exhaustion and chronic muscle and joint issues.
Guilt in Relationships
Guilt is deeply connected to relationships, especially those where we feel responsible for the wellbeing of another person or for maintaining peace in the relationship. This shows up in dynamics where a person becomes passive, avoids conflict, and takes on too much responsibility in order to avoid feeling guilty again. In such cases, the AEQ method helps individuals learn to recognize where guilt is stored in the body, and through exercises and conscious perception, improve energy flow and release this tension, thereby increasing the likelihood of different, more functional behavior that leads out of chronic guilt.
How the AEQ Method Helps Process Guilt
AEQ exercises are primarily aimed at increasing sensory capacity, which means they allow a person to connect more deeply with their body and begin to feel those parts where guilt was long suppressed. Thanks to proper explanation, the individual is not afraid of what they feel anew or differently from within. Through conscious practice of AEQ exercises and AEQ breathing, sensory-motor amnesia is reduced, which helps the person feel themselves and their emotions again and transform their role in life.
During the process of increasing emotional maturity, a person becomes capable of recognizing guilt, understanding its origin, and transforming it into action that improves relationships and promotes more relaxed functioning. When previously chronic or misdirected guilt is properly expressed and understood, it loses its power to chronically inhibit and affect the individual, allowing for more authentic and effective action in life.
Guilt is, therefore, an emotion that can lead us to deeper self-awareness, but it is crucial to ensure that it does not become chronic and paralyze us in our functioning. With the right approach, as provided by the AEQ method, a person can transform guilt and improve their ability to find emotional and physical balance.
Aleš Ernst, author of the AEQ Method.
