Ep# 128: Food Guilt and Shame

In this episode, Dr. Kashey talks about the root causes of guilt and shame around food and eating. He explains that although knowing the origin of a problem may not play a role in its resolution, it can help to generalize the skills one has learned in resolving similar problems in the past. Self-esteem, coupled with demandingness, leads to guilt and shame. He argues that self-esteem is the valuation of one's entire being based on the perceived acceptance from others, perceived superiority over others, and the pressures one puts on oneself. It practically always leads to destroying human worth, although it has practical utility. Dr. Kashey emphasizes the importance of self-respect over self-esteem and urges listeners to stubbornly refuse to make themselves miserable around food and eating in order to foster positive and constructive outcomes with their bodies.