Shame Spirals
Self-reinforcing cycle where mistake triggers shame, shame causes avoidance, avoidance creates more shame. Common in ADHD and RSD.
ADHDEmotional Regulation
Layer 3: Recognised
Clinical Recognition
Not studied as 'shame spirals.' Mechanism covered under emotional dysregulation, avoidance behaviors, and RSD in ADHD literature.
Community Validation
High recognition in ADHD communities. Describes vicious cycle that traps people for days/weeks/months.
Published
17 December 2025 by Team Heumans
A Shame Spiral is when a small mistake triggers intense shame (often RSD), which leads to avoidance. The avoidance creates guilt and more shame, which makes the task even harder to face. The cycle compounds: the longer you avoid, the more shame accumulates, the harder it becomes to break free.
It's not procrastination. It's emotional quicksand. The more you struggle with shame, the deeper you sink. And ADHD brains are particularly vulnerable because we accumulate mistakes (executive dysfunction) and feel rejection intensely (RSD).