Shame : The Silent Enemy of Healing from Addiction

As we gear up here at Harper Therapy to start our group for families of addicted loved ones, the topic of shame keeps popping up as a major contributor to ongoing suffering with the disease. Shame thrives in secrecy, silence and judgment, and if you’ve ever personally experienced addiction or loved someone who has, you know that secrecy, silence and judgment  create a breeding ground for ongoing use and rifts in relationships.

It has often been said that connection is the opposite of addiction and that vulnerability significantly lessens shame. Please join us starting on Tuesday April 6th at 5:30 pm to connect and share openly and honestly with others while learning specific tools to help you deal with your loved one’s addiction.

Most people struggling with addiction, along with their loved ones, tend to isolate and judge themselves for what they’re experiencing. Family members might feel guilty about talking to others about their loved ones’ addiction because they do not want to air their loved one’s “dirty laundry”. In order to heal from addiction, it’s essential to find safe people who get what you’re going through; that’s why self-help programs, like 12-step recovery, can be so powerful, because you learn through them that you are not alone. While there are many many resources for helping individuals cope with addictive behaviors, there are not so many resources for the people who love and support them. In our group process, we will explore the difference between shame and guilt and will provide group members with coping skills to manage feelings of shame. 

If you have a loved one struggling with addiction and are interested in more information please call us at Harper Therapy 813-434-3639.