#self-reproach

• To self-flagellate — To whip or scourge oneself, as an act of ritual penance or physical mortification in certain religious practices. Figuratively and psychologically, it denotes extreme self-reproach, severe self-accusation, or excessive mental punishment over a mistake or guilt.
• Self-flagellation — The act of whipping or scourging oneself; ritual self-flagellation performed as a physical penance. Figuratively and psychologically, it denotes a destructive mental process of severe self-accusation, extreme self-reproach, and exaggerated emotional punishment driven by deep guilt.
• Self-reproach — To blame oneself for a mistake, attitude, or action considered inappropriate or harmful; to make self-reproaches or to experience internal guilt for a failure or shortcoming. This psychological mechanism reflects a harsh critical self-analysis, which can function either as a regulatory ethical awareness or, in excess, as a source of emotional stress and persistent guilt.
• Self-reproach — The act of self-reproaching and its result; the state or process of conscious self-blame through which a person analyzes and criticizes their own actions, decisions, or omissions. In clinical terms, self-reproach is a frequent component of depressive or anxious episodes, manifesting as a destructive inner dialogue that weakens self-esteem and blocks emotional resilience.