Why Shame Affects 100% of People with Complex Trauma

In this monologue, Tim Fletcher discusses shame as a core belief rather than an emotion, explaining that it stems from complex trauma and leads to negative self-perception. He details how shame manifests in feelings of worthlessness and inadequacy, triggering emotions like pain, fear, anxiety, depression, anger, and hopelessness. The talk explores how individuals develop coping mechanisms such as creating a false persona and an idealized self, which ultimately reinforce shame through constant self-criticism. Furthermore, the speaker explains how internalized parental criticism perpetuates shame and distinguishes shame from guilt, noting that shame is about identity while guilt is about actions, and how false guilt can be instilled. He concludes by explaining how guilt can feed into pre-existing shame, creating a cycle of negative self-perception.