Did you realise now that shame is ‘me’, and no longer at arm’s length, it changes from antagonist to an ally (as in all of ‘you’ on board)?
And because you say in your next message “I have been “cleaning out the cupboards” of all the things which I previously ignored or pushed to the side” (link), the beginning of this conversation might be informative (Richard, List D, Jonathan, 4 Aug 2013).