Tejal Somvanshi
If you forgive other people easily but not yourself, Drew Barrymore's resurfaced 2023 interview describes exactly that pattern.
In a 2023 Vulture profile, Barrymore said: "I forgive my mom. I forgive my dad. I've never forgiven myself, but I'd like to, and I'm ready to." The quote has been republished recently, drawing attention to the difference between forgiving others and forgiving yourself.
Barrymore was emancipated from her parents at 14, according to the profile. Her comments have prompted readers to ask whether forgiveness helps wellbeing.
If you struggle with constant self-criticism, treat self-forgiveness as something you can work on. Start by separating accountability from self-punishment. Acknowledge the mistake, name the lesson, and give yourself the same empathy you would offer a friend.
Does forgiveness help health?
Research finds associations between forgiveness and self-forgiveness and measures of wellbeing, including lower reported stress and fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression. That is not the same as proof that practising forgiveness causes those outcomes. How does forgiveness improve your mental and physical health? The evidence suggests a link, but it does not establish forgiveness as a treatment for depression, inflammation or sleep problems.
Earlier draft claims about lower blood pressure, lower cortisol, better sleep, the Annals of Behavioral Medicine finding and a four-stage Worthington self-forgiveness model were not verified and have been removed. Worthington's widely cited REACH model is a five-step approach to interpersonal forgiveness.
If guilt or low mood is affecting daily life, a licensed therapist can help.
Internal links: self-compassion guide; stress and sleep article.
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