Dallas BraggFormer crystal methamphetamine user, I help men who have sex with men break free from the addictive patterns associated with Chemsex. Currently expanding my expertise by seeking to become a Certified

Unpacking Shame

24 Apr 2026 · 1 min

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In this brief instructional monologue, Dallas Bragg presents three practical tools for unpacking shame, positioning shame not as a scapegoat but as a doorway to deeper self‑understanding. The core technique highlighted is the “and underneath that” practice, where the speaker advises listeners to pause when a shame label arises, refrain from arguing or agreeing, and repeatedly ask “and underneath that?” to trace the surface feeling to its deeper underlying beliefs (e.g., self‑sabotage → feeling unsafe to succeed → fear of disappointing others → belief that disappointment is inevitable). Bragg emphasizes staying present with the feeling rather than exiting the emotional space, recommending a five‑minute journaling session to follow the thread of underlying thoughts. The tone is instructional and supportive, encouraging listeners to engage with discomfort to achieve insight.

Chapters

Okay, so here's 3 ways to unpack the shame beneath the label. If you're ready to stop using shame as a scapegoat and start going deep and using it as a doorway, here are 3 tools to begin. Number 1, the and underneath that practice. The next time you catch yourself using a shame identifier, don't argue with it and don't agree with it. Just ask, and underneath that? Okay, I self-sabotage. And underneath that? I don't feel safe succeeding. And underneath that? If I succeed, people will expect more and I'll disappoint them. And underneath that, I've always believed disappointment is inevitable. Keep going. Most shame labels are surface-level answers to much deeper questions. So this practice trains you to stay in the room instead of taking the exit. Give yourself 5 minutes and a journal. Follow the thread. And underneath that, and underneath that.