While you may use shame and guilt to describe your feelings interchangeably, both have negative self-evaluations and feelings. A big difference between shame vs guilt is guilt can help you understand how your actions impact others, however, shame is an inward-facing emotion that reflects how you feel about yourself. During Recovery, guilt can help you move forward while shame keeps you stuck in the past.
7 Summit Pathways can help you recognize the difference between shame and guilt in addiction recovery and help you take one step at a time to move forward to live a life you love. Our team of professionals can evaluate and address underlying mental health disorders and observe signs of substance use disorders that can be a result of shame or guilt.
What Is Shame?
Shame, as defined by the dictionary, is a painful emotion arising from the awareness that you or someone else has done something wrong. While it may seem similar to guilt, shame goes deeper, affecting how we perceive ourselves and how we believe others see us. Unlike guilt, which is often tied to specific actions, shame is more about our self-perception and identity.
Consider a situation where a friend apologizes for something hurtful they said, but instead of accepting the apology gracefully, you respond with something equally hurtful in return. In this scenario, you might feel guilty for causing your friend pain, but the shame comes from recognizing that your actions don’t align with the person you aspire to be. Guilt is linked to the specific act of hurting your friend, while shame reflects a deeper discomfort with the kind of person you think you’ve shown yourself to be.
What Is Guilt?
Guilt stems from our actions, even actions you may only think about. The dictionary defines it as a feeling of responsibility or remorse for something you did, such as a crime or other wrongdoing. You have to recognize the person you’ve wronged as someone important or someone you care about to feel guilt. Therefore, sometimes feeling guilty shows emotional progress, but focusing on your guilt too long can eventually lead to shame.
The Difference Between Shame vs. Guilt in Recovery
This distinction between guilt and shame is crucial because while guilt can motivate us to make amends, shame can often linger, impacting our self-esteem and how we interact with others. Understanding this difference can help us navigate these emotions more effectively and work toward personal growth.
Discussing shame vs. guilt in recovery is an important aspect of success. Dwelling on feelings of shame can lead to self-punishment and destructive behaviors. Shame is correlated with addiction, depression, suicide, violence and more, while guilt is inversely correlated with all those things. While you may want to punish yourself and everyone else as you deal with your shame, it’s not productive to recovery.
On the other hand, guilt can help heal during recovery. Feelings of guilt are a sign that you’re going through a healthy recovery process and allows you to take ownership of your behaviors and reverse them. You need to dwell on feelings of guilt in recovery, listen to them, then reverse them. Once you take responsibility for the mistakes you’ve made, apologizing and correcting those mistakes, you’re well on your way to repairing a life once dominated by addiction.
External Judgment vs. Internal Judgment
Guilt often involves an acknowledgment of wrongdoing based on external judgments or societal norms. Shame, meanwhile, is more about internal judgment, where we feel exposed or defective in our own eyes or the eyes of others.
Each of these combinations highlights a different aspect of the complex relationship between guilt and shame, offering a variety of perspectives on how they affect our emotions and behavior.
Contact 7 Summit Pathways in Tampa, FL
At 7 Summit Pathways, we help patients work through feelings of guilt so that they can also release feelings of shame. By focusing on the seven dimensions of wellness during recovery, we take an individualized approach that helps you figure out what is guilt and what is shame on your own life. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment.
As the Clinical Director at 7 Summit Pathways, Dylan brings a wealth of expertise, compassion, and commitment to the forefront of addiction recovery. With a deep-rooted passion for helping individuals overcome the challenges of substance abuse, he plays a pivotal role in guiding clients toward lasting sobriety and wellness. Dylan holds his credentials in mental health counseling and has amassed extensive experience in addiction treatment over his career. He is dedicated to staying at the forefront of evidence-based practices, continuously refining his approach to meet the evolving needs of clients. As the Clinical Director, Dylan oversees all aspects of the treatment process, ensuring that each client receives personalized care tailored to their unique circumstances. He leads a team of skilled clinicians and support staff, fostering a culture of empathy, respect, and encouragement within the facility. With a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of addiction and co-occurring disorders, Dylan provides individual and group therapy sessions, equipping clients with the tools and strategies they need to navigate the challenges of recovery successfully. He also collaborates closely with other healthcare professionals and community organizations to facilitate a holistic approach to treatment.