The Double Bind of Shame
Compassion Focused TherapyA key aspect is what we call the Double Bind of Shame because shame experiences they not only have this effect of sensitizing our threat system and increasing our propensity to experience a sense of a threatened social self in the world, but they will also reduce our ability to seek and receive and be open to care and support from others. What this means is that shame not only overstimulates the threat system, but it also blocks our access to our soothing affiliative system. Shame experiences and shame may actually block the only thing that can help us, ill shame. And that's why this can become such a toxic, pervasive, vicious cycle in our lives.