Dancing Through The Darkness: The Cognitive Treatment of Shame

This book offers a self-help text and a cognitive approach to overcome shame. A mini-survey was conducted to bring clarity and personal definition to the emotion shame. The survey yielded many different situations and contexts in which an individual experiences shame. The difference between shame and guilt, and shame as a feeling vs. an emotion was explored. The text mostly focused on shame as an emotion or identity. The paradigm offers that shame is a learned behavior that can be unlearned. The influences that assist in the development of shame are presented. The thought-feeling or faulty learning model is presented with ways to change thought patterns. The book examines the connections between a shameful identity, depression, anxiety, and addictions. The issue of how shame plays out in relational choices is examined, with a plan for change. Practical approaches to working through shame are offered. The importance of forgiveness, acceptance, and love are specified. The emotion of shame is poorly defined, thus the approach of offering a personal definition of shame. The core issue of abandonment has been a presenting theme in all individuals who suffer with shame. Fear of rejection is a top layer to the abondonment issues. The book offers some helpful paradigm shifts, for consideration. This book offers a self-help approach with easy exercises to assist the individual in change. In this very simple text she guides the reader through understanding shame, recognizing the sources of shame and learning new behaviors.