When the War Isn’t Where You Are — But Still Lives Inside You

Many Ukrainians abroad feel guilt, numbness, or helplessness watching the war from afar. This article explores how trauma travels, and how therapy can help process complex emotions in times of crisis.

woman leaning against a wall in dim hallway

My post contentEven when you’re safe, war doesn’t feel far. You scroll through headlines, hear updates from family, and live with a constant, quiet ache. Many Ukrainians abroad or in safer regions describe feeling split—between gratitude and guilt, between daily life and deep grief.

This response is normal. It's called survivor’s guilt, and it often shows up when people feel they’ve escaped something others haven’t. You may feel you don’t have the right to relax, enjoy life, or feel happy while others are suffering. Or you may feel numb altogether—like your emotions have gone into hiding, just to cope.

There’s no “correct” way to feel during a war. But holding everything inside doesn’t make you stronger—it just makes the weight harder to carry. You’re allowed to rest. To smile. To live. That doesn’t mean you’ve forgotten anyone—it means you’re human.

Therapy can be a space to say what you haven’t been able to say out loud. To grieve, to rage, to hope. You don’t have to justify your pain or your peace. Both belong.