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  • Healing the Shame That Binds You

  • Written by: John Bradshaw
  • Narrated by: John Pruden
  • Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (56 ratings)

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Healing the Shame That Binds You

Written by: John Bradshaw
Narrated by: John Pruden
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Publisher's Summary

Healing the Shame That Binds You is the most enduring work of family relationship expert and New York Times best-selling author John Bradshaw. In it, he shows how unhealthy toxic shame, often learned young and maintained into adulthood, is the core component in our compulsions, co-dependencies, addictions and drive to superachieve. While positive shame empowers us and sustains the fabric of our social system, inappropriate or misdirected shame results in the breakdown of our self-esteem, the destruction of the family system, and an inability to move forward with our lives. In an honest and emotionally revealing style based largely on his personal experience with addiction and his decades as a counselor, John Bradshaw moves from the source and manifestation of toxic shame to the practical tools---affirmations, visualizations, inner voice and feeling work, guided meditations, and other healing techniques---that will release the shame that binds us to our past.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©1988 John Bradshaw, Renewed 2005 by John Bradshaw (P)2011 Tantor

What listeners say about Healing the Shame That Binds You

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  • J D
  • 2022-05-07

Incredible Book

This book is simply incredible,it took me sometime to get through because this book demands and requires an openness to internal reflection. Many elements of shame are discussed and explored it was a great audiobook that can change your life for the better.

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Serenity now

I loved this book, it has set me free and has given me immense hope to find myself and heal from toxic shame! I wish I could thank John Bradshaw in person!

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1 person found this helpful

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Informative, Validating, Useful

If you’re feeling limited by chronic shame and embarrassment, this is the book for you. It takes the sting out of a normal human experience and puts it back in its proper place.

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Brilliant Characterization

I was pulled into the plot immediately and never let go. The mystery had so much depth it rose eons above a crime- based story. The conflict between the sisters added depth. I admire the strength of the sisters that developed and continued to grow to the very end. It was a gripping read with just the right touch of softness.

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worth the sifting

Author is incredibly well-read.

If you consider yourself to generally be able to sift the wheat from the chaff then this book just might have something to offer you.

Again, you take some you leave some.

The performance is not the best.....its read with the same intonations throughout and it gives an odd rhythm to the book making harder to tie in different points from the same paragraph together but it was still manageable to me.

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Good content frustrating reading

Very in-depth discussion of shame that goes far beyond most superficial self-help books. I like the way he ties the core of shame in with psychopathology and brings in dimensions from Alice Miller’s work. Bradshaw also brings in personal stories and the 12 step program. The reader did not pronounce the word affect properly, so I was frustrated, because when it’s pronounced with the accent on the second syllable, it is a different word, and means something entirely different (produced effect) than when it is pronounced with the accent on the first syllable (emotional manifestation)….

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Great book

The book illustrates a few “coping mechanisms” and how ppl use those for years to cover their inner shame they carry throughout their lives. Also, it contains recommendations on how to unwind and move on. I would say most of the methods are widely known but the book offers author’s perspective on the issue and some personal experiences experience.
Overall - the book is a great guide to our negative emotions. Would be great for ppl who are interested in the topic.

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professional read

I can't rate it in terms of starts because I did not finish it. I had to quit a few chapters in because I didn't understand anything. this is not a page turner, and not for average people trying to learn about themselves. j think this book was intended for professionals in
the field because it needs a high level of understanding.

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A healing balm and much needed guidance

I got this serendipitously sent to my library somehow after a very earnest and deeply yearning prayer for clarity on God and his will for me both relating to shame, spirituality, sexuality and so much more. I am humbled and deeply, eternally grateful for this work. Thank you. This is medicine for my soul.

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Hurts my head

Way to fast and too much name dropping and can’t really tell when the book starts I felt it wasn’t well organized.

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