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Shadows of Berlin


A captivating novel of a Berlin girl on the run from the guilt of her past and ...
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What prevents Rachel from feeling "worthy" of her struggles with mental health?

Created: 04/28/22

Replies: 13

Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

What prevents Rachel from feeling "worthy" of her struggles with mental health?

In many ways, Rachel resists thinking of herself as traumatized. What prevents her from feeling "worthy" of her struggles with mental health?


Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
robertaw

Join Date: 04/20/16

Posts: 83

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

Guilt.


Posted Apr. 28, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Laura C

Join Date: 04/30/21

Posts: 26

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

Rachel is eaten up by survivor guilt and will not allow herself to enjoy any aspect of life that so many other Jews were denied, especially when some of those are her family.


Posted Apr. 29, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Maggie

Join Date: 01/01/16

Posts: 444

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

I agree with Laura C.


Posted Apr. 30, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
annw

Join Date: 04/25/14

Posts: 8

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

What does it mean to be survivor? This was and remains a very limited identity. Role of American women was very very limited.


Posted Apr. 30, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
carriem

Join Date: 10/19/20

Posts: 237

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

I agree with Laura C. Plus by not sharing to at the least be able live a happy life it will continue to eat her up.


Posted Apr. 30, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Kari J

Join Date: 09/21/21

Posts: 22

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

As a child, Rachel was never told or made to feel 'worthy' and any pain her mother felt was passed to her - she absorbed her mother's neglect - she wasn't shown love b/c she wasn't worth (or deserved) love. She feels that she deserves to suffer because she always has. The struggle and the pain are her identity.


Posted May. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
catherynez

Join Date: 01/27/18

Posts: 98

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

Survivor’s guilt as everyone mentioned above. So many events and people in her current life triggered traumatic reminders of her past in the war.


Posted May. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
annar

Join Date: 06/13/11

Posts: 114

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

This woman feels so guilty about what she did during WWII. She cannot forgive herself for what she did to save her own life. Also, she thought she was protecting her Mother.


Posted May. 01, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
terriej

Join Date: 07/28/11

Posts: 436

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

I think many people feel unworthy when they suffer from mental health issues. Her survivor guilt only made this worse.


Posted May. 08, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
melissa c.

Join Date: 01/10/21

Posts: 111

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

I agree with those above - hopefully the stigma surrounding mental health is being eradicated and treatment options are more freely discussed and available to those who need help.


Posted May. 09, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
swchis39

Join Date: 09/26/12

Posts: 181

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

I agree with all previous comments. Survivor guilt is very real. Think of how many today suffer from PTSD


Posted May. 13, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
Molly Mae

Join Date: 02/12/22

Posts: 35

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

Rachel struggles to feel worthy of her mental health issues because she feels like they pale in comparison to the physical pain and loss of life so many other people endured. She feels guilt, also, surrounding her relationship with her mother, whom she thought she was protecting. I also felt like there was a bit of her feeling guilty because not only did she survive, but she was able to live in America and have access to more luxury and better healthcare than she had in Germany.


Posted May. 23, 2022 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
beckys

Join Date: 08/12/16

Posts: 246

RE: What prevents Rachel from feeling &...

Yes, absolutely...survivors guilt


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