ABSTRACT
Patients were asked to localize their body shame. Seventy-five percent were concerned with overall shape: some thought that they were too fat, some too thin. Body shame is rooted in abusive experiences and imparts a sense of vulnerability, fear, and helplessness. Shame-motivated patients cannot attain self-worth from surgery. Childhood physical and sexual abuse are profound physical boundary violations that impact the way the child experiences his or her body. High body shame levels were always associated with childhood sexual and physical abuse in the mothers and daughters. Body shame is not evanescent but chronic. Trauma pain is medicated by varying activities, addictions, or deliberate self- injury.
