Overcoming Shame and Codependency: 8 Steps to Find Yourself

Shame — a painful feeling that arises when you are exposed, publicly humiliated, or rejected. It is a painful and intensely felt realization that you are not good enough. Shame — a universal emotion, yet it is rarely talked about. For some people, shame is imprinted in the subconscious, undermining self-esteem and robbing confidence, leading to codependency. In turn, codependency — when we ignore our own needs and desires in an attempt to protect or please another person — often masks abusive relationships, harmful habits, and other detrimental forms of behavior. Shame and codependency feed off each other, keeping us in their grip, causing us to fixate on relationships, hindering our growth and ability to be ourselves.