How Shame Fuels Addiction (and Keeps People in Denial)

Almost no one wakes up and says, “I think I’ll be the bad guy today.” In fact, most of us go through extraordinary lengths—often subconsciously—to avoid seeing ourselves as the villain. This is true for all of us, but it’s especially true for people struggling with addiction.

One of the biggest drivers behind addictive behavior is shame. The tricky part? Most people don’t even realize it’s there.

The Hidden Power of Shame

You probably know what shame feels like. But we’re usually not aware of when we’re experiencing it—especially in the moment. Shame tends to hang out under the surface, quietly influencing:

• How we feel

• How we see the world

• The decisions we make

• And ultimately… how we behave

When we don’t recognize shame, we naturally begin building psychological defenses to avoid it. Unfortunately, those same defense mechanisms are what keep people stuck in denial and trapped in the cycle of addict...