#39: Survivor’s Guilt
Our grandparents, who lived through multiple wars, often bear the heavy burden of painful memories that can linger for a lifetime. Those who actively participated in conflicts may grapple with the complex emotions of survivor’s guilt and shame. The weight of knowing that they survived while others did not can be emotionally overwhelming.

These veterans carry not only the physical scars but also the invisible wounds of war, enduring a lifelong struggle to make sense of their experiences and find solace. It sounds like this person’s uncle was carrying a lot of guilt and shame, and one way to deal with these emotions was alcohol. Even after he got sober, he used alcohol to honor the fallen troops.