Left unchecked, shame will eat your soul.
Research shows that shame—the inherent belief that one is defective and unworthy of love—neither encourages nor motives positive change. Instead, it corrodes the hope and belief that we can change and live a better life. Over time, as festering shame leaves us feeling isolated and unlovable, we begin to behave in ways that create that exact situation. Shame leads not to positive change, but to behaviors that reinforce the shame. For addicts like ourselves, the shame cycle feeds the addiction cycle, and both cycles must be broken if we hope to recover.
Just for Today
Look for feelings of shame. If they occur, notice whether you feel triggered to act out.