Coping With Feelings of Shame

It’s normal to feel ashamed when you have psoriasis. You can read more here.

WHAT CAN YOU DO ABOUT your feelings of shame?

• Your shame is not helping you.

    Acknowledge your feelings, they’re a normal human reaction to having psoriasis. Regard yourself with kindness, forgiveness and compassion.

• Get support from your family and friends.

   One recent case study reported how family therapy for a 46 year old woman with psoriasis not only helped her manage feelings of shame but also cleared her skin (Shah and Bewley, 2014).

• Notice your critical and judgmental voice

   – is it telling you how disgusting you are? It’s not helping you and you wouldn’t use it on a loved one or a friend with psoriasis, so why turn it on yourself? 

• Remind yourself you have an autoimmune disease and it’s not your fault.

• Remember most people are too concerned with their own faults to be judging you.

References:

Shah A. and Bewley A. (2014). Psoriasis: ‘the badge of shame’. A case report of a psychological intervention to reduce and potentially clear chronic skin disease. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology; 39 (5): 600-603.