Healing the Shame That Binds You
by John Bradshaw
Toxic shame as the core of addiction, codependency and compulsion: how it is installed in families, how it hides behind perfectionism and rage, and a programme for externalising it. The 1988 book that put shame on the recovery map.
Read it if…
you suspect shame, not guilt, is running your life.
See the book →
Skip it if…
you want a lighter touch; Bradshaw is intense.
Try instead: Homecoming →
Three things you will actually use
- Guilt says I did wrong; shame says I am wrong.
- Shame hides behind rage and perfectionism.
- Externalise it: speak it to someone safe.
Do this first
Read the chapter on how shame is internalised.
Our verdict
Shame, on the map.
See the book →
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