“I Am A Horrible Person” — A Core Limiting Belief

This belief isn’t loud.
It’s heavy.
It lives under moments of self-doubt, moral anxiety, and the fear that if people really knew you — they’d walk away.

“I Am A Horrible Person” isn’t always based on what you’ve done.
It’s based on a deep fear of what you are.

What It Sounds Like Internally:

• “They’d hate me if they knew the truth.”
• “I always ruin things eventually.”
• “I can’t forgive myself — even if others can.”

Where It Shows Up:

• Chronic guilt that feels disproportionate to your actions
• Self-sabotage after success or connection
• Hypervigilance around how others perceive you
• Emotional shutdown when praised, loved, or trusted

What It Can Lead To:

Unchecked, this belief often evolves into:

• “Punishing myself is the only responsible thing to do.”
• “If I let people get close, I’ll hurt them.”
• “If I feel good, I must be ignoring something bad.”

What Therapy Targets:

This isn’t about convincing you you’re a “good person.”
It’s about helping your nervous system release the need for punishment, fear, and constant moral self-monitoring.

Through Pattern Reconditioning, we shift your internal response from shame to responsibility — and from fear of harm to capacity for care.

👉 Explore the Therapy Approach →

👉 See the Full Pattern Breakdown →

ShiftGrit Glossary

Glossary

Belief Unpairing

Glossary

Reconditioning Protocol

Glossary

Opt-Out Behaviour — When the System Ejects to Escape the Loop

Glossary

The Pressure Cooker – When Coping Strategies Build Until You Break

Glossary

Pattern Loops — The Repeating Cycle That Reinforces Itself