Breaking Free from Shame--How Guilt Fuels Addiction and Triggers Relapse
Sep 29, 2025
Listen on Spotify
Shame is one of the biggest threats to recovery. Unlike guilt, which says we did something wrong, shame tells us we are wrong—unworthy of sobriety. This toxic mindset keeps people stuck replaying past mistakes and often drives relapse.
On the Addiction Recovery Podcast, Steven T. Ginsburg, founder of Restore Detox Centers, calls shame “the toolbox of the enemy.” His solution: take action through the 10th Step—own mistakes quickly and make amends before shame builds up. Recovery, he reminds us, is about progress, not perfection.
At Restore, setbacks are met with compassion, not judgment. “We don’t shoot our wounded,” Steven says. In this environment, people learn to separate who they are from what they’ve done and begin to believe they’re truly worthy of healing.
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