Shame is such negative word. “Shame on you” is something no one wants to hear. It brings up feelings that so many of us relate to our childhood. For me, I don’t only feel as if I have done something wrong, but even worse, I have disappointed the ones I love, and I've felt like I was morally defective.  Addiction brings with it so much shame. The lying, the sneaking, and the hiding all fuels the fires of shame. What I have learned here at South Orange County Detox and Treatment is that I can have healthy remorse over my actions but I don’t have to live in shame which is usually the number one reason for relapse in my case. I'm also learning that one of the keys to success in recovery is emotional sobriety. Understanding what makes me tick and turning my life around so instead of getting stuck in the shame and failure I can get on with the process of forgiving myself. The greatest thing to hear is “I am proud of you”. I intend to replace shame with pride so I can lead and healthy productive life.