One of the most paralyzing aspects of any mental illness is the toxic shame that so many are burdened with as the result of society’s general lack of understanding, knowledge and compassion. When one is mentally ill and has it constantly mirrored back to them that is shameful and negative in the eyes of society if can be more than just difficult, it can be almost impossible, for those who are mentally ill to not internalize this misinformed attitude. Internalized shame is toxic by its very nature.