Shame evokes anxiety about what will happen if someone really knows is, but, because it is impossible to for anxiety and anger to be felt simultaneously, we can dream our anxiety by employing anger or rage in the form of contempt... Contempt, because it feels more powerful has always helped us feel safer and more powerful than the anxiety we feel when we experience shame. [3]
Wendy J. Mahill, Growing a Passionate Heart
abuse-survivors, ashamed, avoidance, contempt, healing-insights, psychological-defence, self-contempt, shame