Guilt vs Shame: How Understanding the Difference Can Help You Live a Better Life

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Guilt vs Shame How Understanding the Difference
Can Help You Live a Better Life
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(No Transcript)
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• The human mind is very complex. As licensed
  therapists and counselors who assist individuals
  and couples, our role at Heart-Centered
  Counseling is getting to know what causes our
  patients struggles in life. Helping them
  understand the difference between guilt and shame
  is part of the approach to healing. If you
  struggle with knowing how the two differ, youll
  find the answer to be life affirming.
• Dr. Brené Brown, author and well-known shame
  researcher, sums up the difference between guilt
  and shame eloquently. Shame focuses on the self
  where guilt focuses on the behavior.

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• When a person feels as if they are bad, shame
  has set in. When the same person mentions that
  they did something bad, theyre doing so
  because they feel guilty about the situation.
• Dr. Brown believes that guilt is a positive. She
  states, Im just going to say it Im pro-guilt.
  Guilt is good. Guilt helps us stay on track
  because its about our behavior. It occurs when
  we compare something weve done or failed to do
  with our personal values.
• Shame, however, is to blame for a multitude of
  psychological problems including addiction,
  depression, violence, eating disorders and
  suicide. A person who is deeply ashamed is often
  disordered in his or her thinking or action.

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• They may be outwardly aggressive to themselves or
  others. If you have gotten to this point in your
  own life, having regular therapy sessions helps
  in your recovery.
• Although guilt and shame are both powerful
  emotions, they differ dramatically. Understanding
  the difference between the two can change your
  life for the better. In fact, the healing that
  youre looking for to happen takes place when you
  admit your role in a situation (guilt) but dont
  let feelings of unworthiness (shame) prevent you
  from seeking the psychological help through
  individual counseling needed to thrive.

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• Heart Centered Counseling provides individual
  therapy, marriage or couples counseling and
  family therapy. We offer the best care available
  to those struggling with personal, relational,
  and mental health issues. If you are looking for
  counseling in Loveland or Therapist in Fort
  Collins or Greeley or Loveland, please visit our
  site http//carlscounseling.com/ to know more
  about us and how to contact us.