The Secret Message of Shame: Pathways to Hope and Healing

The Secret Message of Shame: Pathways to Hope and Healing by Potter-Efron, Ronald T.. paperback edition. ISBN: 9781572241701.

Shame is a universal human experience, a necessary part of the self- consciousness that underlies our basic sense of ourselves. Coming to terms with feelings of shame when we fail to meet our own standards or feel we have disappointed others is a normal part of emotional development. Shame turns toxic or maladaptive when it dominates a persons life, fuels addictions or depression, turns to rage or violence, or escalates into self-hatred and self-sabotage. The Secret Message of Shame explores what shame really tells us about hidden yearnings, aspirations, and self-concepts. The authors explain how shame is related to qualities such as pride and sense of honor, examine its connection to sexuality and addiction, and discuss how it contributes to violence. The Secret Message of Shame assists readers in guiding this often misunderstood emotion in a healing direction.