Overcoming Shame for Addiction Worksheet

Overcoming Shame for Addiction Worksheet Overview

Shame is a deeply painful emotion that often fuels the cycle of addiction. It’s the belief that you are fundamentally flawed, unworthy, or incapable of change. Shame creates a sense of isolation and self-loathing, driving you to seek relief or escape through substances or addictive behaviors. This creates a vicious cycle: addiction temporarily numbs the pain of shame, but the consequences of addictive behaviors —such as damaged relationships, missed opportunities, or physical harm—often intensify feelings of shame.

Overcoming shame is crucial to recovery because it allows you to reconnect with your humanity and see yourself as more than your struggles. Through creative exercises like drawing your “shame monster” and practicing self-compassion, this worksheet will guide you in exploring feelings of shame and recognizing that addiction doesn’t define your worth.

In this worksheet, we’ll cover the following:

• Identifying Shame
• Drawing Your Shame Monster
• Answering Journal Questions for Reflection