- Nothing is good ever good enough
- I feel so alone and lonely
- I am a complete failure
These are some examples of the words of shame. Shame is one of the most toxic and intense emotions we can experience. Shame is universal – we all have it. However, few people are willing or able to talk about it – and the more we don’t talk about it, the worse it becomes. Shame is a silent epidemic which is psychological, social, and cultural. In order to deal with shame, we need to develop the language to talk about it before we can process our experiences in a meaningful way.
This is why understanding shame and developing shame resilience is so important if we hope to live in a wholehearted way. Brown (2007) defined shame resilience as a person’s ability to recognize and understand shame, move through it constructively while maintaining a basic level of authenticity, and increase his or her level of courage, compassion, and connection which are antidotes to shame and the basic elements of wholehearted living.
At Midwest Center for Human Services, Shame Resilience Treatment is offered in both individual and group formats. Shame Resilience Treatment includes learning about and processing shame as a gradual, active process in order to foster the development of effective shame resilience skills. Shame is a universal, intensely painful feeling of unworthiness. However, through this treatment program, through discussions about shaming experiences, developing a vocabulary and definitions around topics of shame, and ultimately building shame resilience can have profound effects on your life. Many participants have expressed that their experiences within a shame resilience program has added to their relationships, reinforced healthy choices, given them insight to connect with others, and opened their awareness to authentic living.
