Sanctuary for the Abused
Friday, January 12, 2018
Adults Shamed as Children
The following is quoted from Shame & Guilt: Masters of Disguise by Jane Middelton-Moz, Ph.D.
1. Adults shamed as children are afraid of vulnerability and fear exposure of self.
2. Adults shamed as children may suffer extreme shyness, embarrassment and feelings of being inferior to others. They don't believe they make mistakes. Instead they believe they are mistakes.
3. Adults shamed as children fear intimacy and tend to avoid real commitment in relationships. These adults frequently express the feeling that one foot is out of the door, prepared to run.
4. Adults shamed as children may appear either grandiose and self-centered or seem selfless.
5. Adults shamed as children feel that, “No matter what I do, it won't make a difference; I am and always will be worthless and unlovable.”
6. Adults shamed as children frequently feel defensive when even minor negative feedback is given. They suffer feelings of severe humiliation if forced to look at mistakes or imperfections.
7. Adults shamed as children frequently blame others before they can be blamed.
8. Adults shamed as children may suffer from debilitating guilt. These individuals apologize constantly. They assume responsibility for the behavior of those around them.
9. Adults shamed as children feel like outsiders. They feel a pervasive sense of loneliness throughout their lives, even when surrounded with those who love and care.
10. Adults shamed as children project their beliefs about themselves onto others. They engage in mind-reading that is not in their favor, consistently feeling judged by others.
11. Adults shamed as children often feel angry and judgmental towards the qualities in others that they feel ashamed of in themselves. This can lead to shaming others.
12. Adults shamed as children often feel ugly, flawed and imperfect. These feelings regarding self may lead to focus on clothing and makeup in an attempt to hide flaws in personal appearance and self.
13. Adults shamed as children often feel controlled from the outside as well as from within. Normal spontaneous expression is blocked.
14. Adults shamed as children feel they must do things perfectly or not at all. This internalized belief frequently leads to performance anxiety and procrastination.
15. Adults shamed as children experience depression.
16. Adults shamed as children lie to themselves and others.
17. Adults shamed as children block their feelings of shame through compulsive behaviors like workaholism, eating disorders, shopping, sexual addiction, substance abuse, list-making or gambling.
18. Adults shamed as children often have caseloads rather than friendships.
19. Adults shamed as children often involve themselves in compulsive processing of past interactions and events and intellectualization as a defense against pain.
20. Adults shamed as children are stuck in dependency or counter-dependency.
21. Adults shamed as children have little sense of emotional boundaries. They feel constantly violated by others. They frequently build false boundaries through walls, rage, pleasing or isolation.
Labels: adult children of narcissists, boundaries, childhood abuse, compulsivity, guilt, rage, shame, victims
7 Comments:
Wow, I've never seen such a comprehensive and direct list like this. Great post. Thank you.
I could never put it into words myself but you have vividly described my feelings and how I live.
wow... this is very sobering, and yet so accurate.
Talking super fast, filling in all the quiet moments in a conversation. Trying to accomodate the needs of every person in the room. It's like watching a brutally beaten and raped person running around trying to help and please the rapists. (This is actually what is taking place.)
Is what Anonymous said true? I've always talked a lot and talked very fast as long as I can remember. Would like to hear some professional response on this one- not to negate Anonymous- just never heard of this before.
Thanx
M
Can be traced to trauma in both children & adults:
http://www.mha-nyc.org/about-mental-illness/children--adolescents.aspx
I'm a survivor of a passive-aggressive verbal abuser. It took me years to recognize that I was not the problem in the relationship and then several more years before I discovered the name of what he did to me. Your words here ring 100% true as to what I lived through. My ex even twisted things on me and used the "nothing I ever do is right" line several times to act as if I was the one berating him so that I would feel bad I had upset him. I never felt like he did things wrong then but now I know better. He was a sick individual.
Great list, I'm planning on sharing it with 300 of my closest facebook followers.
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