ABUSE AND ADDICTION - EXPRESSIONS OF A WOUNDED SELF AND INTERNALIZED SHAME

Abuse and addiction are rampant in society today (McGarrah, 1989; Post on & Lison, 1989). The current authors believe that the psychological aspects of abuse are similar to addiction and that both are typically related to a wounded self and the internalization of shame. Both probl ems may be considered to be adaptive strategies used to deal with unac ceptable feelings in a society that does not promote expression of fee lings. These problems reflect individuals' poor impulse control and de ficits in internal regulating mechanisms that are ill-equipped to deal with stress, intense feelings, self-esteem building and boundary cont rol which are linked to internalized shame. It is suggested that issue s of shame be integrated into the treatment of problems of addiction a nd abuse. Treatment considerations I elated to shame are presented.