Toxic Shame: What Can Happen If Someone Disconnects From Their Toxic Shame?

There are feelings that can be seen as being ‘positive’ and then there are feelings that can be seen as being ‘negative’. When it comes to how a feeling is perceived, it is likely to depend on the impact that it has on someone’s mood.

If a feeling causes one to feel good, it can be seen in a positive light, but if it doesn’t, it can be seen in a negative light. Based on this, it could be said that certain feelings serve a purpose while others don’t.

Neutral

However, although some feelings will make one feel good and others won’t, it doesn’t mean that they don’t all serve a purpose. As even though a feeling might not make someone feel good, this feeling can provide them with important information.

For example, they could end up feeling guilty, with this feeling potentially letting them know that they have done something wrong and need to make amends. If they didn’t feel this way, they wouldn’t know that they had done something wrong and they may continue to do the same thing.

Another Effect

Along with there being feelings that feel good and feelings that feel bad, there will be feelings that energise them and feelings that drain them. Rage can allow them to feel strong and powerful, but toxic shame can cause them to feel weak and powerless.

The former can be seen as being part of the fight response, while the latter can be seen as being part of the freeze response. By seeing each feeling in this way, it is clear to see why it will feel better to experience rage than it will to experience toxic shame.

A Defence

Considering this, it makes complete sense as to why someone would experience rage in order to avoid experiencing toxic shame. One will allow them to rise up; the other will cause them to sink right down.

Now, this is not to say that this is something that will consciously take place, as this will most likely be something that takes place automatically. In fact, it could take place so quickly that one is not even aware of their own toxic shame.

The Main Issue

Reacting in this way will stop them from sinking right down, and that can be seen as a good thing. The trouble is that through becoming consumed by rage, it could cause them to cause a lot of damage.

Their behaviour could have a negative effect on their relationships, which may end up isolating them from others. Other people will find it hard to relax and to feel safe in their presence.

A Different Outcome

Another way that someone can avoid their own toxic shame is by completely disconnecting from it and projecting it into others. Through disconnecting from it, they will rarely, if ever, come into contact with it.

But, as this toxic shame is still inside them, it will still have an effect on their reality. There will be people ‘out there’ who end up embodying this toxic shame, with these people being seen as worthless and useless, for instance.

Totally Oblivious

As they are unaware of what is going on, it will seem as though they just happen to come into contact with people who are like this. In each situation, they will be the common dominator, yet this won’t stand out.

The defences that they have built up will prevent them from being able to see how their ‘outer world’ is reflecting back their inner world. Of course, it won’t just be reflecting back what is taking place in their conscious mind; it will also be reflecting back what is taking place in their unconscious mind.

The Downside of Intelligence

What can also play a part in their own self-deception is that they can have a well-developed intellect, with this allowing them to rationalise what they are doing. Through having the right evidence and facts, they can label certain people are being-less than human.

If they were able to take a step back and to reflect on their behaviour, it might soon become clear that they are simply engaging in a more sophisticated form of abuse. They will have their reasons as to why what they are doing is right and acceptable, but that won’t alter what they are actually doing.

No Better Off

What this illustrates is that being ‘intelligent’ doesn’t necessarily mean that someone will be less likely to deceive themselves. Being this way can just make it easier for them to avoid their own inner wounds.
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It may seem as though they are not very emotional and are very logical, but how they perceive life and what they believe will still be a consequence of what is taking place at a deeper level and are unable to acknowledge. They might see their emotional self as being ‘lower’ or ‘inferior’ to their intellect, yet this part of them will be defining how they experience life.

The Key

The antidote to this is for one to realise how their ‘outer world’ is there to shine the light on what is taking place inside them. This will allow them to see that if they believe that other people are worthless and less-than-human, it is a clear sign that this is how they see themselves.

Not only will taking back their projections allow them to become a more integrated human being and to develop self-love, it will also allow them to make the world a better place. The reason for this is that they won’t be feeding into the drama of the world.  

Awareness

If one can relate to this, and they are ready to change their life, they may need to reach out for external support. This is something that can take place with the assistance of a therapist or healer.

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Oliver JR Cooper
http://www.oliverjrcooper.co.uk