Do guilt trips lock you up in an emotional prison? What do you need to know to deflect or neutralize guilt trips? Let’s look at Tom’s encounter with guilt. He was concerned this past Christmas about picking out presents that his nieces and nephews would need or like. So he … [Read more...] about Prisoners of Guilt
Guilt and Shame
The Lingering Pain of Old Shame
We have all experienced, like a punch to the gut, old feelings of shame for things that happened long ago. Of course, everyone has committed past blunders or acts of negligence, cowardice, or foolishness. A lot of people hold on to these memories, and they continue to be … [Read more...] about The Lingering Pain of Old Shame
The Pain We Lock Away
It’s so important to see through our psychological defenses if we want to become emotionally strong and escape from suffering. Through our defenses, we lie to ourselves in much the way that parents lie to children to protect them from life’s harsher realities. Some experts … [Read more...] about The Pain We Lock Away
Understanding Anorexia
Recently I watched a YouTube clip of Phil McGraw (Dr. Phil) counseling a 79-pound woman with anorexia, and it was a sad sight indeed. My sadness was felt both for the plight of the woman and for the plight of all people who get only shallow psychological knowledge from so-called … [Read more...] about Understanding Anorexia
O Shame, Where is Thy Secret Source?
Shame is a powerful and self-damaging emotion, and many books in recent years have tackled the subject in search of its roots. Some experts say shame is “the quintessential negative emotion” because it influences so many different moods and behaviors. While shame can saturate … [Read more...] about O Shame, Where is Thy Secret Source?