Deborah Thomas February 11, 2019 Mental Health, Depression Breaking the Shame-Addiction Cycle Deborah Thomas February 11, 2019 Mental Health, Depression We often hear guilt and shame used as synonyms. But the truth is, one can serve as a positive source of energy in your life, the other can be an overpowering negative force.Guilt, for the most part, is how you judge yourself on a behavior or event.