Chronic Illness and Shame.

Of all the emotional issues that come with chronic illness, the most painful and most damaging is shame.

While guilt is about something we have done, shame is about who we are and all of the ways we feel that we are bad, wrong, weak, lacking or ‘less than’ that make us so very different to everyone else.

Especially when we compare ourselves to others who have our illness and who seem to be doing so much better than us. 

In this episode I go through the typical kinds of statements and beliefs that you can feel when living with chronic illness, address some of the driving factors that create these feelings and explain why they leave you feeling so full of shame. 

Things like: 

I feel ashamed because I feel like I am failing to get better.

I feel ashamed because I am ruining my families lives.

I feel ashamed and embarrassed because I look so different than I did before.

If you live with chronic illness and struggle with feelings of shame, then this episode is for you and will help you understand why you feel the way you feel. Have a listen and please share this if it can help your friends or your chronic illness communities. 

If you enjoyed this episode I would so appreciate it if you would leave a positive review on your favorite podcast player.

Let’s help educate and spread the word of the practical realities and emotional issues that becoming chronically ill bring from those who know it best. 

It is only by sharing our stories and experiences that we can help someone else know that they are not alone when it comes to chronic illness.

You can listen to the podcast here on the blog or search and subscribe to The Emotional Autoimmunity Podcast on your favorite podcast player.