This post contains “Toxic shame quiz” to help you become aware of any toxic shame signs you may be struggling with.
What Is Toxic Shame?
Toxic shame is a debilitating feeling of worthlessness and inadequacy.
Toxic shame usually begins in childhood and is often caused by childhood abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences that leave the child believing they’re not good enough.
Toxic shame can lead to procrastination, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and other self-sabotaging behaviors.
Related: Top 10 Signs Of Toxic Shame In A Person (+Best 20 Healing Shame Exercises)
Toxic Shame Quiz
#1. Do you fear intimacy and being vulnerable?
#2. Do you often struggle with feelings of inferiority?
#3. Do you often struggle with feelings of worthlessness and believe that no matter what you do, you won’t be lovable?
#4. Do you often struggle with excessive negative self-talk?
#5. Do you struggle with feelings of severe humiliation when you’re forced to look at mistakes or imperfections?
#6. Do you often suffer from debilitating guilt and assume responsibility for the behavior of those around you?
#7. Do you feel like an outsider and struggle with feelings of loneliness, even when surrounded by those who love and care?
#8. Do you often try hard to hide flaws in personal appearance and self?
#9. Do you struggle with perfectionism and often feel that you must do things perfectly or not at all?
#10. Do you use compulsive behaviors like workaholism, eating disorders, substance abuse, and other addictions to block or numb your feelings?
This quiz is for informational purposes only. It is not meant as a diagnostic or assessment tool.
Results
The questions above represent common signs of toxic shame. If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you may be struggling with toxic shame.
Related: Inner Teenager Healing: 14 Proven Exercises to Heal Your Inner Teenager
FREE Shame Resources
Worksheets
Body Shame Worksheets Download PDF
TED Talks
Monica Lewinsky: The price of shame
Brené Brown: Listening to shame
June Tangney: What’s the difference between guilt and shame?
Podcasts
Unlocking Us: Hosted by Brené Brown
Resources
- Toxic Shame: Causes, Symptoms, and More (webmd.com)
- Toxic Shame: What It Is and How to Cope (healthline.com)
- Overcoming the Paralysis of Toxic Shame | Psychology Today
- (PDF) Childhood, toxic shame, toxic guilt and self-compassion (researchgate.net)
