Caregiver Shame & Guilt: How to Stop Carrying the Emotional Burden | Dr. Judith Pilla
- E158
- 36:25
- November 3rd 2026
Shame and guilt can become an invisible burden for family caregivers. We may believe we should know more, do more, or somehow be able to handle everything perfectly—but what if some of that shame was never ours to carry?
In this episode of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast, Isabel Melgarejo speaks with psychotherapist Dr. Judith Pilla about the difference between shame and guilt, why caregivers can absorb shame from the people around them, and how negative messages we repeat to ourselves can quietly shape the way we see ourselves.
Judith explains the difference between corrosive shame, which simply harms us, and pro-social shame, which can help us recognize boundaries and learn from our actions. They also discuss self-awareness, transgenerational shame, social media, and practical ways caregivers can begin letting go of shame that serves no useful purpose.
A thoughtful conversation for anyone who has ever wondered, “Am I doing enough?” or been harder on themselves than they would ever be toward someone else.
You don't have to carry this alone.
A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast
I’m Isabel Melgarejo, and I was raised never to talk about the uncomfortable things in life and to put myself after everyone else’s needs (just like any other woman I know). In college, after Dad’s passing, I had to change all my beliefs. I had to talk about death, about my mom’s future, and I had to ask for a LOT of favors.
After connecting with many caregivers when I moved to Texas and remembering one of the toughest seasons in my life, I created a program to help caregivers navigate these very uncomfortable conversations and help them through their particular journeys with their loved ones. In this podcast, I want to share advice on how to prioritize your mental health, how to have those difficult conversations, and how to talk you out of feeling guilty and overwhelmed.