In this episode, the podcast hosts explore the neurology of shame and its impact on health and relationships, discussing the connection between shame and trauma responses, as well as the immunological effects of shame and guilt. They also share their own experiences with shame and provide tools for processing shame through the body. The episode covers topics such as the somatic experience of shame, the trauma of dissociation, and how shame drives maladaptive survival behaviors.
Shame is a debilitating emotion that inhibits self-expression and acts as a barrier to connection with others.
Shame has immunological effects, causing changes in inflammatory products and is neurologically linked to freeze and dissociation responses.
Deep dives
Shame as an Immobilizing Emotion with a Complex Relationship to Trauma
Shame is an intense and debilitating emotional response that is closely linked to trauma. It often comes with other responses like freeze and dissociation, and acts as a barrier to self-compassion and relationship with oneself. Shame is harmful and disorganizing, as it threatens our social survival. It has a complex relationship with trauma and impacts our development, relationships, and health. Shame drives behaviors and can lead to self-abandonment.
Shame's Role in Social Bonds and Its Impact on Attachment
Shame is protective and helps us maintain social bonds and a sense of belonging. It inhibits socially and morally unwanted behaviors, ensuring our attachment to the collective and our familial connection. However, shame also isolates and represses self-expression, leading to disconnection and inhibiting emotional regulation and co-regulation. Shame can become toxic, affecting our self-worth, relationships, and internal state, and perpetuating dissociation and freeze responses.
Physiological and Neurological Effects of Shame
Shame has immunological and inflammatory effects on the body. High levels of self-induced shame can cause changes in inflammatory products, leading to pro-inflammatory cytokine activity. Shame can also be neurologically linked to freeze and dissociation responses, inhibiting healthy brain development and disconnecting the brain from the body. Shame represses emotional expression, disconnects us from others, and can be particularly complex in cases of early childhood sexual abuse, where shame becomes deeply intertwined with body violations and overcoupled with pleasure.
Working with Shame through Regulation, Emotional Processing, and Self-Compassion
To address shame, it is important to cultivate regulation and safety in the nervous system. Practices such as movement, bouncing, shaking, and deep breathing can help regulate the body. Emotional processing and allowing the experience of emotions without dissociation are crucial. Developing self-compassion, working on body acceptance, and being kind to oneself can also help reduce shame. Understanding the deep roots of shame and its impact on attachment allows individuals to make choices that prioritize their well-being and honor their nervous system's capacity.
If you listened to our episode on toxic shame last season, then you know that shame is a debilitating emotional response that keeps us from full self-expression. It represses other emotions and inhibits our verbal and non-verbal communication, becoming a barrier to our connection with others.
In this episode, hosts Jennifer and Elisabeth dive even deeper into the neurology of shame and how it impacts our health and relationships. They cover the link between shame and the trauma responses freeze and dissociation, the immunological effects of shame and guilt, and how shame keeps us isolated and drives protective behaviors in those with complex trauma.
Jennifer and Elisbeth also share their own experiences with shame, going into detail with the practices and tools they use to build the capacity in their nervous system and move shame through the body.
It’s incredibly difficult to feel secure and connected when you’re living life with an undercurrent of shame, but acceptance is the first step to addressing these issues. So tune in now to learn how you can start safely processing shame!
Topics discussed in this episode:
Why shame is a necessary emotion
How shame impacts self-expression
The body’s somatic experience of shame
The over coupling of shame during childhood sexual trauma
How shame drives maladaptive survival behaviors
The trauma of dissociation
Working shame through the body
How nervous system work has helped us work through shame