Shame

Shame by definition of Oxford Languages:

A painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

The consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior…

There should be some sort of content warning that precedes this definition for sexual abuse victims. Something simple: ‘If you are a sexual abuse victim, shame is lying to you! It was not your fault!’ Followed by links to resources.

Shame by definition of Tangney and Dearing (2002): 

Shame is generally defined as strong negative emotions characterized by perceptions of the global devaluation of oneself. Emotions in which the feeling of global self-evisceration is experienced. 

Self-evisceration.

Yes!

My definition:

Shame is a demon. A life destroying darkness that devours essence. A creature that lures you away from your true self. Shame is a torturesome whisperer of untruths. The boogeyman terrorizing you in your sleep. Shame encapsulates dissociation keeping different parts of you isolated and alone. Shame is obsessive and relentless. Shame is a parasite that causes the carrier to self-destruct. Shame is a liar.

If you are struggling with shame, please reach out and ask me how you can release yourself, heal your inner child, and free yourself from the chains of shame.

Ash

(Tangney, J. P., & Dearing, R. L. (2002). Shame and guilt. New York, NY, USA: Guilford Press