Transforming Shame into
Self-Trust & Inherent Worth
**This page is under construction - thank you for your patience.
Inherent worth means that your worthiness is unconditional and exists simply because you are human. It’s not based on achievements, productivity, or approval from others. It’s the idea that you are worthy of love, acceptance, and respect just as you are - no matter what.
Your value is not something you have to earn or prove.
Do you constantly feel guilty, like you’re often doing something wrong, saying the wrong thing, or letting people down?
Are you frequently overthinking what others think of you?
Do you feel like you’re ‘not enough’ unless someone else approves?
What is Shame-Based Anxiety?
Shame-based anxiety is anxiety that stems from deep feelings of unworthiness, fear of being exposed as “not good enough,” or a strong sense of internalized shame. It’s often linked to toxic shame, where someone believes there’s something fundamentally wrong with them, rather than just feeling bad about a specific action.
How Shame-Based Anxiety Shows Up:
🔹 Fear of Judgment – Constantly worrying about how others perceive you.
🔹 People-Pleasing & Approval-Seeking – Trying to earn validation to avoid feelings of shame.
🔹 Over-apologizing & Guilt – Feeling guilty for setting boundaries or prioritizing your needs.
🔹 Perfectionism – Believing mistakes = failure = unworthiness.
🔹 Avoidance & Withdrawal – Pulling away from relationships, opportunities, or vulnerability to avoid potential shame.
It’s deeply connected to complex trauma and often develops in survivors of emotional abuse, neglect, or high-criticism environments. Instead of just fearing failure or rejection, the person fears that failure or rejection confirms their deepest belief—that they’re inherently flawed.
