A Hidden Legacy in Post-Communist Balkan Societies
Addiction is often seen as a condition rooted in biology, trauma, or social environment. Yet one of the most overlooked emotional drivers behind addiction, especially in post-communist Balkan societies, is guilt. Guilt, when internalized over generations and reinforced by cultural norms, can silently fuel the emotional turmoil that leads many individuals to seek relief in addictive behaviors. Guilt is a complex psychological emotion. In its healthy form, it serves as a moral compass, helping us recognize when we’ve hurt others and prompting us to make amends. However, when guilt becomes excessive, chronic, or instilled from external pressures rather than internal values, it can distort one’s self-perception. Instead of serving growth, it becomes a source of shame, self-punishment, and emotional paralysis.
In Balkan countries that spent decades under communist regimes, guilt was not only a personal experience, it was a state-driven tool of control. Entire generations were raised to suppress personal desires, to fear standing out, and to constantly monitor their behavior in light of how it might affect others or be perceived by the regime. Thinking of oneself was often framed as selfish or even dangerous. Children were taught to carry the responsibility not just for their own actions, but for their family's reputation and political “cleanliness.” Emotional expression and individual ambition were replaced by duty, silence, and sacrifice. This created a cultural narrative in which guilt was deeply embedded in everyday life. Even after the fall of communism, the emotional imprints persisted. Parents who had internalized guilt passed it on to their children, not always through direct instruction, but through attitudes, unspoken rules, and emotional expectations. Many grew up believing that putting themselves first, expressing need, or admitting struggle was something to be ashamed of.
In this context, addiction often becomes a form of emotional escape. Whether through substances, compulsive behaviors, or emotional detachment, addiction can offer temporary relief from the overwhelming sense of guilt and inadequacy. It numbs the inner critic, silences the inherited voices of judgment, and provides a fleeting sense of autonomy or control. Unfortunately, addiction then reinforces guilt. The behavior meant to soothe becomes another reason to feel ashamed, creating a self-destructive cycle that is hard to break. Individuals often isolate, withdraw, or punish themselves further, exactly the emotional patterns rooted in their cultural upbringing. Breaking this cycle requires more than individual willpower. It requires understanding how historical, cultural, and emotional forces shaped the inner landscape of guilt. In therapy, people can begin to separate the guilt that belongs to them from the guilt that was inherited. They can learn to recognize that caring for oneself is not betrayal, but healing.
By addressing the emotional roots of guilt, especially those passed down from authoritarian systems, Balkan societies can begin to see addiction not as moral failure, but as a signal of deeper emotional pain. Before asking “Why the addiction” we can ask “What is this pain?”And only then can true recovery begin: not just from addiction, but from the burden of inherited guilt.
Written by: Brikena Gjylameti