Peter A Levine, PhD on Shame - Interview by Caryn Scotto D'Luzia

This interview was done courtesy of Caryn Scotto D'Luzia, founder of the SOAR Method and Author of Alchemy of Shame Transformation.
More info on Caryn can be found at re-embodylife.com.

[@beachcomberboz2902]

At the age of 67 I am about to start work with an SE bodyworker. I will count this as the start of a new life.

[@theseeker1237]

Awesome. I'm 65 and starting over, and enjoy life more than I ever have. Wow.

[@rp338]

I am approaching 50 and i am seeking an SE therapist. I can’t seem to find one where i live. I wish you the best in your journey

[@beachcomberboz2902]

@@rp338 I catch the train and travel 300 km to see my SEP, it used to be every week but now it is once every 2 months because she has worked her healing magic on me. But we are in Covid lockdown now in Melbourne (Australia) so it has to be by Zoom.

[@allisonerickson3598]

🙏🙏👏👏👏👏♥️♥️♥️

[@beachcomberboz2902]

@Flo Not really... I am only now discovering that the essential thing is to learn to be happy being truly alone. I think that a lot of trauma is to do with attachment disabilities: the SEP, if they are gifted, can reach deep inside you and help you to untie a lot of polyvagal/spiritual knots, so that you are in a strong enough place to cut yourself free of all kinds of neuroses: at this point one breathes a big sigh of relief, but then one realises with a shock that the work has only just begun, that one has to pick up all of the threads of one's life that still carry meaning and weave them into a new life-cloth. In my case I have found that my SEP prefers me to set both the direction and the pace. She is never prescriptive or even advisory, yet she has an incredible ability draw the strongest and deepest insights from me which enable me to chart my own individual & highly idiosyncratic path, with new strength and assurance.

[@ekdaufin1485]

“Humiliation is chronic shame...it is value-less. It is corrosive.” 🙏🏾

[@davisworth5114]

Trying to explain one's trauma to another is humiliating because we are revealing that we have been rendered helpless. The natural reaction of one hearing your story is to be dismissive, because unless the listener has been traumatized, they want to reinforce that they are immune from trauma, which is not true. Survivors/victims will persist in the shame state unless they have a therapist who recognizes the critical need to address it as a major barrier to healing and self-acceptance.

[@jcm5171]

I agree 100%.

[@michaelgreene7403]

@@davisworth5114 What an amazingly true statement! Thank you!!

[@tamar2450]

@@davisworth5114such a truth! 💥

[@AshYuLih]

@@davisworth5114 One of the wiseses comments I have read in a long time. Did you want to write "unless the listener has NOT been traumatized"?

[@michellefreeman777]

I am 63 and starting over...its amazing now❤ We've lived alot of life. Now its to to settle into peace, relief. Happy life to us all. ❤

[@david.petrey]

"The problem is when shame has become chronic, when shame isn't repaired. See shame is meant to be repaired." -profound

[@benserkowski4663]

I thought depression and anxiety were the root cause of me not succeeding in life and not feeling good intill I discovered I didn’t like myself and realised the level of shame of have inside my body. And how that it is worse than anxiety and depression.

[@BASEDinMaine]

Thats a powerful revelation though. I hope it is helping you find some relief.

[@iragbag]

Thanks for sharing! While talking to a friend yesterday about "drinking alone", for the 1st time I realized the same. I am not working with Anxiety and Depression but with Shame. It has slightly broken me. But It feels better to see that I am not alone in this.

[@ra-yb7sq]

So insightful....

[@benserkowski4663]

Raghav Sharma. No your not alone and your never alone in this. Don’t give up on your healing journey it gets better the more you work on your emotional body. Take your time with your healing.

[@benserkowski4663]

Based in Maine. Yeah it was a big revelation. And it helped me pin point my issues. Healing is not straight forward though and to get better you have to feel worse. I’ve successfully “purged” negative emotions to the point where I released your emotions are in fact attached to your ego and because I’ve cleared so much emotional pain I’ve had an identity collapse. Which is another tricky thing to deal. But I’m hoping I can find my way to my true self. This may be different for anyone. But my healing journey led me down to a spiritual awakening. Bottom line is this. Healing isn’t easy or straight forward but it’s not only way to real total peace and furfillment. Hope this makes sense and good luck on the path.

[@sarimaaret6845]

Peter A. Levine and his work are a gift to humanity!

[@tulinbeyduz920]

i lived in 8 homes and both my mothers humiliated me and made me feel chronic shame .. which manifested as people pleasing , binge eating , and panic attacks .. slowly feeling comfortable with uncomfortable feelings . knowing i am more than just my feelings , they are just feelings . it doesn’t make them true

[@EvgeniiaDolinenko]

I'm so sorry for your. 😢

[@thesummerland6165]

survived a horrific childhood of violent abuse and witnessing my father hurt my beloved dog ( I am also an animal empath so it was severely scarring, to this day I have panic attacks if read about sometimes when some abuse survivors harming innocent animals etc)...severe MDD, ocd in late teens and always freeze/no self worth...put myself thru undergrad but was unable to afford grad school, so I worked to save bc I had little money and cfids so I knew I was unable to work full-time and couldn't go into enormous debt, long story short, finally got into grad school 45 but by then has progressed joint disease and had to withdraw and became permanently disabled. Many bosses and co-workers, friends took advantage of me bc I have freeze response and never had a voice, just terror, I didn't realize it was freeze response and carried so much guilt fo rnot being stronger or fighting back. I struggle so much with shame bc of being treated as if I were worthless/bad etc my entire life and feeling worth-less bc I am unable to work and disabled...even a psychiatrist disenfranchised me as if I were less than bc disabled...my animals are the sole reason I am still alive, I have always connected with them and they are the reason I survived all the horrors of my childhood, their love and nurturing. Very difficult to live life feeling shame and lack of worth, and mental healthcare is unaffordable. Thank you so much for all you do to help those suffering

[@melinachessex961]

I read your touching story. I also saw animal mistreatment as a child and as an adult and I also freeze. Being aware of the way We “react” to this situations is a good start.

[@cshula1]

OMG! You sound so much like me. My animals are the only reason I am alive. I also freeze and this has really messed me up. I too have the shame. My brain and my heart don't line up. My brain says one thing but my heart says another. I'm 67 now and trauma that I have experienced in the last 20 years has me still experiencing flashbacks. They just won't go away. I find myself in flashbacks trying to fix the problem to make the outcome better but, of course the outcome will never be able to change. He talks about shyness. I'm very much an introvert and have been shamed for this all my life. God help us.

[@ASAS-dn4ve]

Sorry to hear that. If you live in a bigger town or a city, you could join some self support group, like Adult Children or other. Group therapy is very quick way to get rid of shame, because you not only get support, but also give support to many people at the same time. And feel understood by whole group.

[@rabbitcreative]

> animal empath Are you also vegan?

[@luckystone2293]

This is not a place for you to start a shitstorm. Read the room.

[@pabloravizzoli345]

I realized recently that shame is the felt sensation in response to the perception of being excluded from the group and by extention from survival.

[@raphaellavelasquez8144]

Shaming was my mothers super power.

[@bethsargent1336]

This explains the gag reflex I experience sometimes while processing traumatic memories.

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

- I was constantly crying & choking ... it started in my early childhood I learned how to calm myself & avoid scary people for the most part //.

[@moniquesantos437]

You do too?? I thought it was just me. Thank you for sharing that🙏🤗

[@BarbaraMerryGeng]

yes, it feels like I need to throw up They showed this in “ Clock Work Orange “ - where this young criminal volunteers to be part of a retraining program. > He is forced to see violent films & medicated - to repell violence - The response is to feel like throwing up .. [ Stanley Kubrick - “ A Clockwork Orange “ ]

[@jiaogulan]

And explains why people vomit when doing ayahuasca perhaps

[@hitoshura2800]

@@jiaogulan that's a good line of thinking 🤔 👌 I'm so glad I found Dr. Levine and this community, so many of the comments come from genuinely curious people who just want to heal

[@sandywhat2429]

I really respect this man. No inflated ego. Really a man of integrity. So few like this. Im enjoying the intelligence and knowledge in this conversation. Im wondering why other therapists are so inexperienced. Please develop a program that all that can access Dr. Levine.

[@Jmamelia]

He has written books and has online programs. Check local library and Sounds True.

[@sandywhat2429]

@@Jmamelia this needs to become part of healthcare, not people always paying for help. Often those who need it most gave no money

[@screamingjoy]

​@@sandywhat2429 Healthcare in this country is an expensive system. All pay including those who want to help. Ppl are so afraid to be used, they don't want to help anyone else... its the fear of socialism that keeps us stingy to create a system that actually works for all.

[@sandywhat2429]

@@screamingjoy you're not in my country

[@screamingjoy]

@@sandywhat2429 well I'm talking about the US. Where in order to help ppl you have to pay for your education then pay for insurance i case someone you can't help wants to sue you. It makes the whole thing more difficult than it should be.

[@PhillipYewTree]

It would be preferable if The person asking the questions said much less. Let the expert speak.

[@mikimiki6666]

I've been feeling the shame for four years. Every time I feel some bitter energy is inside of my body, and I want to shout and let it out. The discomfort and pain I can never explain in words. Then, I experience chronic anxiety and depression. Sometimes I feel immobilised and too fatigue to do anything. The doctors told me my physical health is great, making me feeling so helpless and hopeless. I searched the past studies about truama and neurobiological changes, but I couldn't find a holistic explanation about my complexed symptoms. One day, I saw a book names 'walking the tiger, healing trauma', the book opened my new world of healing and I am so happy! Thank you, Dr. Levin!

[@wandalee5010]

Miki Li the art of not giving a fuck

[@jcm5171]

Bless you!

[@ekdaufin1485]

“The shame is for what you did to me.” 🙏🏾

[@wandalee5010]

E K Daufin karma bitches!

[@YouTherapy]

As a trauma specialist, I continue to learn more and more from Peter Levine's work. I'm finding so many more client's reducing their symptoms through the work in the body, and this shame piece, wow, just is more prevalent and heavy than any other symptoms I encounter. Thank you for sharing this vital information.

[@chironOwlglass]

Please check out Lawrence Afrin's work, especially his work talking about the role of mast cells in mental health. Mast cells are so, so so important to trauma work.

[@marcinkwiecinski2125]

What you can recommend to read about shame?

[@Jennasworld1876]

Thank you for actually continuing to do research. I’ve worked with trauma ppl for a decade and never found real relief until I learned about CPTSD. I had to fire all of my practitioners bc they didn’t care to learn more

[@jakalakaful]

@@Jennasworld1876 It doesn't help a trauma victim's trust issues to discover that the majority of therapists are wounded healers practicing at a superficial level. I fully understand your sentiment. The only helpful contextualization is that it's another part of the journey - learning discernment.

[@Open_Source_Society]

@@chironOwlglass Have you got about that? Thank you.

[@makaylahollywood3677]

My brother got M.S. in his 60'...out of nowhere. I saw it as a breakdown of shame and not having the resources to feel capable. I just saw the steps to his disease. His whole body tightened up. He lost his ability to talk freely. He was a saint in many ways. I think he was lacking in love and support. He died.

[@tulinbeyduz920]

i’m sorry for your loss

[@Lyrielonwind]

Sorry for your loss. Many people say good people die sooner and I believe it.

[@serpensphile]

Shame = I did something bad. Toxic shame = I AM bad.

[@joeallen2286]

Wouldn’t toxic be a descriptor for a type of shame such as chronic?

[@serpensphile]

@@joeallen2286 I would think so, unless you did something bad and you have either not forgiven yourself or try to rectify the situation.

[@tizzlekizzle]

Yes

[@lalo-ik2ld]

he is one in a billion....therapists may intellectualize his concepts, but that doesn't come close, not even a little, to the reality of where he is coming from...what makes him great is hero worship can't stick to him, and hero worship is what inferior therapists want, need, and are driven by,...just a thought, they are a dime a dozen...he is one in a billion...

[@ameliel8792]

I don't know what some folks here are talking about, I think the questions asked around shame by the interviewer were very pertinent. I think blame and externalisation of blame due to shame is huge. I wish they had spoken more on that.

[@tranquilsense2125]

This could have been a great interview if the lady gave him space to expand on his thoughts instead of asking extremely specific and lengthy questions to prove that she knew enough about the subject.

[@shaundaross123]

I am grateful that kind people post this information for free. Thank you

[@hugorivera385]

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH TRANQUIL SENSE. LET THE MAN EXPRESS HIMSELF.

[@celestelandgrebe4400]

I agree

[@gaia2195]

Ok I thought it was just me 🙈

[@lourdes6222]

Completely agreed

[@creatrix933]

No way… I found Peter A. Levine on his birthday !!! 🫀💡 no coincidences ☀️ happy birthday !!!! 🦢 gonna immerse myself in your work..

[@spadress]

I think a problem happens when "shame for doing something" which is its function turns to "shame for feeling a certain way", since feelings cannot be controlled and appear as a consequence of needs and circumstances.

[@mvg2x34]

For some reason, my blood pressure seemed to decrease as this video progressed. I wish that more people gave others a chance to save face and minimize shame. Dr. Levine’s videos talk about children but many adults are shamed as well and need help with this.

[@Lyrielonwind]

Toxic shame comes from childhood and without therapy you carry it all throughout your life. That's why therapists talk so much about children.

[@sledgebuzz3530]

Levine is brilliant, but the video is marred by the muffled and long-winded questions and comments by the interviewer.

[@lesliegann2737]

That was exactly my impression also. I even thought that he doesn't like her very much.

[@jennytaylor3324]

@@lesliegann2737 Yes! He was kindly tolerating/humouring her rambling line of questioning, I think! She sounded like a character from a Woody Allen film to me!

[@sandywhat2429]

Im good with it. Im enjoying the conversation. She's very knowledgable as well. Ive seen zero therapists of this calibre.

[@eminemilly]

I'm fine with her questions just the audio is difficult to hear especially with people around. If i turn it up he's too loud and I can just barley hear her

[@marijawright604]

He was just about tolerating these super smart questions. But he is professional at that.

[@helenperala3459]

This was just beautiful. It's everything I needed to hear. Peter is an Angel of Action in the nicest way possible!

[@biancavonmuhlendorf2608]

Nice term: "inner movement to authentic self"- I can very well relate to this

[@shirleea2710]

I love his work. I love his supreme patience in trying to interpret the guts of her long, convoluted questions and then give an answer that is succinct.

[@tientruong2007]

According to Brene Brown, guilt causes you to apologise. Shame causes you to either beat yourself up and be disgusted by yourself or be in denial/ blame that person to protect yourself from feeling shame.

[@MsDutchee]

What a genuine nice man, today was the first time I could listen to what Mr. Levine says here.

[@CharleneCoscarelli-vk2bc]

I really like the collapsing into shame somatically & then following the body emotion felt thread of coming out of that experience.

[@Shaloha808]

I'm fascinated by the negative comments about the interviewer by so many viewers. I found this to be enlightening, informative and the interviewer asked great questions. Peter's responses were, as always, well considered, precise and expanded understanding. My experience of his energy was one of intelligent educator, which is a different energy than one brings to the therapeutic process. Interesting to see how others perceived it, however.

[@pecfree]

Michelle PonTell no she's dumb and tottaly out of sync. And you a total snowflake for not noticing the vibe disruption

[@yoya4766]

Yes it makes for a disjointed and jarring interview, rather than allowing him the opportunity to voice a coherent exposition.

[@yoya4766]

An intelligent educator who can communicate the theories is often more helpful than 'therapists'.

[@fullmoon5495]

triggered I suppose?

[@horgecondaliza6644]

@@fullmoon5495 so do you just say things without knowing fully what your saying? Or do you not know what triggered means? She says "I'm fascinated" if you want to see triggered people there's many parts of KZbin you can go and find.

[@BarbaraParigi71]

Dear Dr Levine I am an SE partitioner and I want to thank you so much for your work and your contribution to therapy. This interview is really interesting and I would be glad to hear more on shame, I don't know why but look like this video opened up lots of old files to me during this Covid 19 pandemic...Thank you.

[@mygirldarby]

My dad had severe social anxiety before it was a disorder, before we knew it as a diagnosis. He would shame the hell out of both my brother and me from the time we were small children. We could do the simplest most normal thing in public, like spin around or sing a little...things that little kids do in public all the time..and he would shame us to kingdom come and make us leave wherever we were. He would offer no recovery from the shame either. We would go home, being shamed and berated the whole way. We just had to live with how awful and shameful we were for singing or spinning. The pain was so bad that I didn't even cry. I started thinking something was wrong with me. I thought maybe I looked weird or strange and that is why my dad acted that way. I wish i looked normal like other kids, but apparently I looked stupid when I did things other kids did. Basically I believed him and develped social anxiety as well. I also developed severe school phobia.

[@chentaichiireland]

That sounds so tough. I totally see how you chose that path of social anxiety due to what you took on as a legacy burden from your Dad who maybe got it somewhere else too. Sending you all good vibes from Ireland.

[@evka24]

I am so sorry to hear that. It breaks my heart…I hope u understand that u were a beautiful child and your father was the sick one ..I hope unknow u r special and u r loved by universe….Sending u a big hug

[@pw2341]

It's a shame the interviewer isn't nearer her microphone., I struggled to hear her questions, but thank you for doing this...I could at least hear Peter Levine.

[@LindaMarie9]

Can you heal shame alone? Or do you need another human being (lockdown question) to help you? It seems from watching this video, you need to be seen, in a non-penetrating way, in order to get unstuck. I understand Dr. Levine's frustration with the interview because healing is such a discrete and individualized process. What might heal one person, could traumatize or retraumatize another! I love this man! I wish I had known about him 40 years ago!

[@meikerieger2899]

Amazing! I wish every somatic Experience Therapist would have his knowledge and experience.

[@ip3043]

Me too I came across a few awful ones!

[@chironOwlglass]

and I wish insurance would actually cover somatic therapists!

[@sonofhibbs4425]

So many people NEED this. It’s key to eliminating a lot of societal problems that plague our culture. Set the captives free.

[@ekdaufin1485]

The shame that makes you apologize for doing something cruel is good.

[@carl8568]

Yes, that is healthy shame or remorse.

[@wolewole7800]

Assholes have even more shame, but it is being repressed & it is, actually, one of their unconscious drives.

[@kirby7379]

SE changed my life for the better, and I use embodying techniques daily.

[@tomkraushaar4220]

As far as I understand (from my reading of Tomkins & Nathanson ) Shame is a primary affect to prevent me from getting too excited or too absorbed in my own pleasure. Fear of being 'a-shamed' can be a major force behind human behavior so ... could be a good or bad depending on circumstances . I feel its important know what face of shame we're looking at when in relationship with clients or our own inner journey.

[@IntuitiveCoachTheresa]

As a former practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism and ardent Anthroposophist, and now born again follower of Jesus Christ, I'm taking on a Biblical study of the origins and healing of shame. It's very interesting; it's the first "negative" emotion that mankind felt after the fall in the Garden of Eden, which resulted from eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, which God had forbidden them: "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” Genesis 3:6-13. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was forbidden to them because they weren't the Creator, and possessing that knowledge would subject them to God's divine standard of wisdom and perfect righteousness in judging good and evil, which they weren't capable of, because they are not God, and never can be. (This is because a created thing can never be it's own Creator. However, through fellowship with Jesus Christ, the Bible tells us that those who believe in Him will be transformed into His likeness when He returns. He will have sanctified us in our walk with Him by His Holy Spirit: "sanctification: 1. the action of making or declaring something holy; 2. the action of being freed from sin or purified; 3. the action of causing something to seem morally right or acceptable," and will imbue us with His own perfect righteousness to judge good and evil). So when Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, they saw that they were "naked" and were afraid, because they judged themselves by the knowledge of good and evil that they then suddenly possessed. Before that they didn't know that nakedness existed. They were "covered" by God's perfection when in union with Him. So they felt shame, immediately followed by fear. They were judged as evil in their OWN sight because they could "see", through the knowledge of good and evil, that they were "evil" for going against God, who loved them. Their nakedness they judged as evil, thus they felt shame, then fear, because they knew they were "uncovered" from the righteous perfection of God by disobeying His command. But because He loves us so much and has mercy and compassion for us, He made a way for us to come back into righteous fellowship with Him and His perfect covering of us through His Son Jesus, and His taking of our transgression against His Father to the Cross for us. That was God's plan to redeem fallen man later. Shame that results in conviction of one's soul that we have done wrong against a brother or sister, parent, God, or even ourselves is not toxic shame, although if we don't have the resource within to realize that we have value as a human being in spite of our mistakes, and the belief that we are forgiven through the Cross of Jesus by a perfect and Holy God, it can turn into toxic shame. But shame is useful for conviction. Toxic shame, however, comes from hell itself, and the accuser, satan. It is designed to hurt and debilitate and ultimately destroy a soul. Dr. Levine touched on this when describing the importance of training a young child who acts out in a destructive way, coupled with affirming that they have value and are loved, in spite of their mistake. This is how God handles us; He convicts us to train us up but affirms how much value we have to Him and how much He loves us. God does not induce toxic shame, but corrective. Without a relationship with God, however, it's very difficult to be healed from toxic shame, unless we are able to truly feel safe, heard and affirmed by people who are capable of holding that space for us with true compassion and without judgment. Which requires that they also have that resource for themselves. What's interesting about the Bible and Jesus Christ is that He is the only God who desires a personal relationship with each person. There are innumerous misconceptions about this in the form of man made religions, corrupted versions of the Bible, false teachings in corrupt "churches," and outright lies about the Bible in secular society for centuries. This is very unfortunate because it mischaracterizes our Creator and makes us continue to seek after the "knowledge of good and evil," creating our own "gods" (including ourselves) without the discernment of His Holy perfection and righteousness, and thereby, to not have access to healing our broken hearts and spirits. So yes, shame convicts us of wrong doing, but love affirms that we have value and worth. When shame is earned, ie through our willful desire to harm (10 commandments), but then we are affirmed in our value and worth once corrected (the Cross), we heal, grow and become eventually who God created us to be. When shame is NOT earned, but rather used as a tool to destroy, it is dangerous and destructive. I'm so grateful for those who are taking this on and helping people distinguish and heal from the effects of toxic shame, psychologically and somatically. As a manual therapist in my own personal experience and in working with people for the last 26 years I have experienced that toxic shame is the number one cause of somatic dysfunction, and indeed many disease states. Thank you for all your wonderful work Dr. Levine and colleagues!

[@thomasdoyle9748]

What is a manual therapist?

[@jenniferarnold-delgado3489]

I love when Peter is happy to be able to share and be connecting with other healers .

[@kerryhogan8570]

Thank you Dr. Levine; we are so grateful for you and your work.

[@MURUR1025]

Yes I agree with interviewer at 15:45. Restoration of or a growing of a somatic 'dignity'. I often see the words 'resilience,' 'integrity', etc. used in places where 'dignity' would be the more suitable term for the context. The term dignity has its own psycho-physiological nuance that sets it apart from those other words and has particular application to working with shame.

[@ritagaston1556]

Her questions are not making best of his knowledge. .. she needs a private session for her personal inquiries.

[@impancaking]

@@ritagaston1556 her questions are fine. Lots of people are going to need different interviewers and are at different stages of comprehension. Not being completely in sync may allow audience who identify with her or are confused or new to all this make better sense of it. Why not find another interview instead of this one? There are many.

[@ms.q7445]

MrYr2011 Dignity is a human right.

[@kalilavalezina]

I'm hopefully just about to start working with an SE practitioner - looking forward to starting. It's going to be uncomfortable for a while, but I want to work through it and with the discomfort and finally start healing. It's been too long. Thankful for therapists like Levine and others for creating this methodology.

[@zain4019]

Thank-you, and thank-you to the interviewer for coaxing this knowledge out of this brilliant healer:)

[@rosaiaruberto6588]

Inner movement and reconnection with authentic self

[@opencurtin]

Toxic shame caused me social anxiety humiliation in school through bulling I still have it today I need help and guidance but I dont know which therapy can act fast and effective.

[@mns8732]

This is so good to see. Thanks for posting.

[@1HorseOpenSlay]

Honestly, I love you peter.you are groundbreaking,and ground healing,and everything.the pendulum swing has been so healing.ty ty ty☀️🌄💛🌄☀️

[@JamesHumecky]

Love this work and am moving into the three-year study of Somatic Experiencing!! Can't wait to share it.

[@meikerieger2899]

enjoy

[@Bejay1100]

hard to hear the interviewer and the protracted questions, at times thanks for posting though

[@cathrinebrun5073]

So much wisdom... thank you sooo much

[@hugecashfan]

Thank you so much for sharing this.God bless you all.

[@breannanow]

Shame came flooding in over the weekend. Which I see as an area of opportunity bc when I get to the root of it all - it stems from unplanned life on earth, lack of protection, and (the most important) lack of love. Shame is a wicked thorn for any person to carry. I hope to be freed from it one day. I’m ready to internally be fully confident about the truths I hold and to stand firmly in authenticity always. - Imperfectly perfect💎

[@debbierosas3880]

Thank you for this beautiful wisdom.

[@jakecorynthian3516]

Thank you for this insightful interview 🙏🏿

[@nicolesavioz6601]

Wait a minute, the shame is about what you did to me, not about how I feel. The disgust is about the shame of what YOU did to me, not what I am about, toxic shame does not belong to me.

[@nicolesavioz6601]

Feeling shame for not being "perfect", having needs, or for being shy (which is a natural evolution to spontaneity and vulnerability and a healthy feeling at its core) or, the worst one: for being humiliated, is projected shame, often topped by anger originating from the shamer, that the receiver then integrated and accepted. NPD are brilliant projecters and gaslighters to the debilitating detriment of the "receiver".

[@thomasdoyle9748]

But not everyone understands that so they may feel shame when it's not their fault.

[@Jaebee2626]

Your a gem Peter. One of my hero’s. Gurus. Thank you❤. So thankful for you and all you do.

[@wildquest7986]

Amazing to see this and really take the profound wisdom in, thank you both to the wonderful interviewer, and to the remarkable, lucid wisdom of Peter Levine

[@janinenewfield4366]

Thank you! Great questions, answers and dialogue. I liked the interviewers insight, it was helpful in imagining SE being applied by different practitioners.

[@Kuruflower]

I learned alot. Great questions. And as usual, Peter Levine is brilliant.

[@JKDVIPER]

Very smart. Fantastic work.

[@a_fellow_human]

Really enjoyed this interview, thank you for your life's work Peter! S.E. has been a crucial part for me in beginning to heal from past traumas.

[@chrisdulaney7744]

7 minutes in and so much information received for my project :)

[@scott555]

A lot of this is hitting home. After a lifetime of pretty serious depression, I discovered at age 48 that it all seems to trace back to adoption relinquishment. Knowing that's been helpful. Before discovering that I had to try to accept that my sadness and anxiety was largely my doing. But dealing with pre-verbal trauma is some bullshit. You're not getting talked out of it. Hearing how chronic shame twists the Self is ... encouraging?

[@nickturnbull4105]

I empathize wholeheartedly with you ,I too was Adopted and have struggled my whole life with feeling inadequate and like a complete outsider , depression and anxiety . I wish you and all adoptees well and hope and wish we can all benefit from this new approach to understanding and healing . Best wishes , Nick in England.

[@annv6781]

I have dealt with shame about my dad's car from friends, myself And even family. My dad is great in truth. He still does not care! Also my ears - something that has caused me a great deal of shame Mostly Self Imposed. I am getting surgery for it *almost! Can't wait! I am resoving shame in my life on my own terms. Done looads of inner work and yes I am happy. Be blessed and happy.

[@caroltousignant1542]

I love you work Peter Levine and it is always so needed. I am also a Messianic believer and I pray for your Salvation and coming to know Yeshua as your Messiah! Shalom! Shalom! Isaiah 53 Is a beautiful old covenant scripture on Yeshua.

[@mamunurrashid5652]

During meditation, when the mind is deprived of the habitual flow of thoughts it will draw on its reserves, like a physical body when it is deprived of food. The deeply rooted impressions will then surface in the form of sensations and thoughts; but simply being aware of them and not reacting to them allows for their eradication because we are breaking the habitual mechanism of desire and aversion, which is the very source of our suffering.

[@Dizzeegaskell]

A fellow old student 😉

[@Neilgs]

No, No, No and No! This is why meditation can be deceptive with respect to numbing the consciousness and piercing hole, as it were, and "going out", which does no one ANY good and is in fact the quintessential opposite of gaining access, exploring and consciously giving voice with an empathic other(s) who can not only begin to substantiate but validate entire range of spontaneous affective feelings that arise. So, NO you do not want to deprive the mid of the habitual flow of thoughts no more so then the body, which can either respect in an effective numbing (type of psychic drunkardness) or starvation and only falsely masking as "replenishment!" Our source of suffering guilt and shame (for most) of not giving full and open voice to ALL feelings and emotions, so by meditating them away (with the goal of samadhi) you are merely (and quite dangerously) closing yourself off, burying yourself in a tomb of denial and not partial by resplendent double-down REPRESSION!

[@slangsd]

@@Neilgsu could use a good meditation lol

[@impancaking]

@@Neilgs being aware and not reacting is not akin to meditating emotions away. Your attention can voice the emotions. Putting words to them can be helpful in other practises but words often define, detract and detatch from the somatic experience during meditation. I believe what the commenter was expressing was to fully experience, fully feel the sensations of anything arising without trying to push them away or relieve them, so they can pass and move through you. Unfortunately shame can be a sticky emotion and like Levine mentions, can be difficult to sit with and allow to move through. I was only able to meditate as described above after I dealt with a lot of my shame (with a lot of verbal validation and different therapies), to a point where being in my body wasnt terror inducing.

[@Neilgs]

@@impancaking Somehow some or most of my original comment was deleted. Yes, agreed, it doesn't have to and I myself meditate. However, the inexorable FACT is that is commonly the case, that iis to say, it unwittingly (or unconsciously) precisely serves that purpose ( somewhat similar as meds do) as Feelings are generally perceived/registered/interpreted on a polyvagal level to many (not all) as too overwhelming and so, therefore, consciously or unconsciously Meditation often has served as a way of numbing consciousness (desenstizing rather than emoting, feeling and integrating). I am not anywhere referring to words connected to meditatio but words conencted and feeing-felt and feeling heard by another and feeling the safety-and- having the courage to express that is often (unconsciously) interpreted as to greatly pale in contrast to dumbing down and shutting off our emotions.

[@srisonal]

Mindfulness includes body awareness. It includes ALL awareness. Body, mind, emotions were never separate in the wisdom of mindfulness. Separating it is a western way of understanding mindfulness. Also, in the form of "practice", mindfulness works towards being that which is far far beyond the ego space (including the ego space.)

[@Cat-qo3ht]

The definition in the beginning, of shame that she read, is what I just experienced about ten minutes ago. I read a text asking me not to say anything to a relative nore her daughter. What I had said was not a shameful thing. And this person has every right to ask me not to say anything. But immediately I got intense butterflies in my abdomen, my face felt hot, I felt a sense of panic and felt like crying. Fortunately this was done over text so I could reply as if I'm just fine and "sure, no problem", but I'm here crying and feeling awful.

[@alaiajanelle]

Thank You 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@Morgainee1]

Super interwiev. I'm interested in shadow work and came across your book waking the tiger online. I read it mainly because of the title: D. I'm so happy to have discovered you, thanks for your great work, I really appreciate it.

[@anabronte8010]

Genial! Thanks!

[@AdelleRamcharan]

"embodyful-ness" love it! Thanks for the upload

[@JamesHumecky]

+Adelle Ramcharan Yes that's one of my favorite phrasings on this video - because it really is!

[@laurenceesposito3393]

I completely agree. Holistic - really wholistic approach.

[@sugkizzy8]

Subscribed! Thank you

[@genessymendoza4066]

As reasoned and social creatures we always familiarized feelings that comes from the external catalyst so that makes and breaks us but is what we choose as we mature. Thank you 🙏

[@sagsunlibrarisingvirgomoon3007]

Reconnection with the Authentic Self... wow! Yes! This makes so much sense to me. For years I have frozen with tension. What an amazingly insightful gifted man. Also, he mentions neurofeedback. I think he is speaking about the type where you are interactive. I have done direct neurofeedback which is just done as stimulation to the brain to rebalance and it is a miracle! Sometimes we get stuck in patterns and need a reset!

[@cesarelena7040]

I am a 81 year old italiano M D who specialised i psycaiatry in New York. I started ad a Freudiana, then became a Gestaltisti and a bodypsychotherapist.I fully agree with dr. Levine ideas and I ask Jim what che tinks abuot therapist touching patients ad I do. Thank.

[@dianehighmore1438]

As a patient who was told by their 60ish psychiatrist, "I like to hug my patients when they arrive, and also when they leave", I say, ask permission before and after each session. I was not asked, just told what was expected. It was uncomfortable for me, sexual abuse survivor. At the end of the third session, I expressed my discomfort with the hugging. The Dr. became agitated, leaving me fearful of carrying on therapy with him.

[@leighdunford6015]

@@dianehighmore1438I am so sorry that happened to you x

[@performancedna302]

Great doctor and bad interview yet such is the world we live in so big hug to release Dr. Levine from the trauma of this interview. Blessed understanding thank you Doctor for the enlightenment.

[@karikarhi3435]

PerformanceDNA i

[@htttppppp]

Forgiveness is also needed....tough stuff

[@gertanckaert3023]

between the pedophile, the father who said i was nymphomaniac, the priest who gave me penance for committing “ adultery “ when i was 13...i lived with shame and blame for decades

[@robertmendrik4120]

Interresting replies (loud). But the questions are to soft te understand. I get triggerd and have to abort. So i hope there will be a re edit one day. 🙏

[@ColargolPL]

Shame in the body is not just posture. It's often kind of internal agitation, like something attacking from inside. How do you get out of that?

[@sabinagatti7978]

Very intresting

[@chironOwlglass]

Emotions like shame are brought about by mast cell degranulation. (Mast cells create all your emotions). You literally blush when you feel embarrassed. That's how we know it's things like histamine and prostaglandin creating that state. If you want to give people a quick tip that will help them be more able to work through their shame more quickly, then antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers really do work. I was making basically no progress in therapy until I started taking the right amount of antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers for me

[@sonofhibbs4425]

KC, would you (or anyone out there in You Tube land) know if atarax (hydroxyzine) is an antihistimane? Since I had a slew of major traumas i’ve Been sick. NO help or answers from doctors, but the atarax is the ONLY thing that helped me progress.

[@barbaracalabro873]

Hydroxyzine is an antihistamine. I take it for mental issues and was surprised to find out that's what it is! 💖

[@marijawright604]

Loved what Dr.Levine said

[@evebrierecoachingpnlecopsy5223]

This is a brilliant video. Thank you. I'm not clear as to the distinction between shame and guilt now though. Could you provide one ?

[@contessaannavonfunk5158]

Very nice!!! :)

[@marylambert1126]

Really liked this interview / great questions . Dr Levine is very informative I particularly valued his discussion regarding Authentic Movement and Embodiment Thank you so much for sharing this great work

[@lucyjackson9408]

What are your thoughts on the resurgence of interest ( and the supporting research (John Hopkins) in and use of entheogens/psychedelics used in tandem with somatic therapy to address freeze response, shame, humiliation associated with chronic ptsd trauma?

[@andavintila8527]

When Peter speaks of going into the shame posture and seeing what it feels/looks like then going out of the shame posture i.e. "the opposite" - is the opposite consist of looking up or looking into the therapist's eyes? Curious about this as eye contact can itself be a trigger for shame or facilitate connection - a toss up!

[@sanataj]

Isn't the continual shame that takes away dignity, also destroying self-worth, self-esteem, self-confidence i.e. the positive self? is that what Mr Levine means when he says not being able to be yourself with other selves?

[@janewonder6895]

Its interesting to me thinking of shame in a dance class,not getting the steps in time,so a mix,so left dancing.... Useful insights here thanks,feeling vulnerable. I recall a friend who came up to me afterwards and helped me to process that....the other women were into competition.... Not accepted to take your time with learning the dance steps.... Needed to slow down.... Interesting insight

[@AtheismF7W]

I read a story once of somone who couldn't dance despite having good coordination and fitness levels. The level of buried shame was such an emotional block that he couldn't even dance alone in a room, with the lights off.

[@pattyredmond6963]

he totally takes it personally they or how treated is only a mirror to them inward

[@kaigietzen161]

patty redmond

[@womenslifelab3965]

So fascinated too see the comments on here. I came to read them because I wondered if others noticed the way he defined shame contradicted with Brene Brown’s definition. when asked at the end if he can envision a world without shaming and he said no, his example pointed to guilt, not shame. I felt disappointment hearing this from him. Some good nuggets though. 🙏🏻

[@AtheismF7W]

Shaming is part of human nature when it comes to behaviour. Like homicide, it will never go away.

[@colourlove9654]

Good discussion, but was hard energetically as the connection between them felt to me very tense even irritation from Peter... Even though I love his work..,

[@Tomatomaten]

i sensed something like that as well .........

[@sukhmanicambridge]

Colourlove yes me too...very interesting. The questions often felt too confining or too specific or too long/wordy and I felt it more like a 'supervision ' for the interviewer but as it wasn't it was slightly off somehow...

[@filifionkazdolinysopotu7992]

Colourlove Funny thing that I noticed: he's noticeably more tense in interviews with women than with men. But than again, there's not a big sample on KZbin.

[@patmeier8707]

She is irritating as I experience her as the expert and aggressive. She says she loves his work and yet her ego seems to want to be in charge and she doesn't seem to really want to understand him at all. He is amazing, quite the expert and deserves respect and an open mind. I witness her as patronizing and full of her own opinions rather than just letting him share. It's no surprise he appears annoyed. She has an agenda and he is reponding authentically.

[@meikerieger2899]

yes, cause she is really into making money with his knowledge. check out her website.

[@maryrosemitchell9682]

Sorry I don’t think shame is necessary. We can teach children awareness without any shame. If a little brother pokes at his sister’s eye, then we can let the brother know that if he pokes his sister’s eye it can harm her, then we have just brought an awareness not shame. All we need is awareness and we can have awareness without one drop of shame.

[@israel3889]

I have D.I.D.Thank you Doctor my therapist and I will explore the shame.

[@aminahrolsdorph8551]

Shame Culture often Become Something Judgemental instead of Relationship with Our Consciousness... Including Enlightenment & Relationship with God Himself. Here Is Much more Fear of What The Nabours Say or Thinking. Then Actually Rising Personal Consciousness & Awareness. Of course There Are Exceptions.. Shining Trough... Love The innocence & Playfulness.. We Are trying to Protecting our Kids.. Our Time of Living It's a Reality Shamelessness.. Loss of Dignity... Respect.. Such important Talk.. Thanks Listening from Egypt.. Born in Norway.