Shame on you!
- Jamie Palmer
- Nov 9, 2025
- 2 min read
Do you constantly feel shame? Are others treating you as if you should be ashamed? Does your self talk consist of negative thoughts and comments? Are you constantly acting and reacting in a manner that reflects the shame you feel? Is this generally related to your actions while in active addition?
Did these actions go against your personal moral code? How do you feel about them now that you are working in recovery? Or trying to become sober?
You are not alone if you answered yes to most of the questions, especially as an addict or alcoholic.
Shame is the feeling that I am something bad (and others know it). Shame is different from guilt. Guilt is when you do something wrong and you know you did it.
For some of us, shame will hold us back from becoming our best selves. Shame has the power to make us feel worthless and inadequate. Shame can be devastating.
Addiction, its consequences and how others perceive us go hand in hand. Others see our actions and make judgements. They see our poor choices and behavior and don’t understand our inability to stop using.
When we are treated as “less than” we begin to believe that is who we are. Still others carry shameful feelings from childhood or trauma and use drugs or alcohol to bury those feelings.
And even though addiction is a disease, most of us feel shame in being an addict or alcoholic. Shame is capable of disguising itself as isolation, arrogance, anger and aggressiveness. Soon we become a shell of ourselves.
Does any of this sound like you? Are you struggling to get past the feelings of shame? Understand - shame serves no purpose other than to make us feel “less than” or unworthy.
I help clients set meaningful goals and rediscover personal worth. You deserve to feel worthy of all that life has to offer you. I would like to help you discover who you can be,
Reach out for a free consultation, explore my website resources or join my community for support.
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