According to Darlene Lancer, "Shame is so painful to the psyche that most people will do anything to avoid it, even though it's a natural emotion that everyone has. It's a physiologic response of the autonomic nervous system. You might blush, have a rapid heartbeat, break into a sweat, freeze, hang your head, slump your shoulders, avoid eye contact, withdraw, even get dizzy or nauseous."

This article discusses how shame can lead to addiction and is the core feeling that leads to many other codependents' symptoms.

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