What's the best way to get over a humiliating experience or situation?
16 Answers
Last Updated: 10/27/2020 at 4:01am


Moderated by
Tracy-Kate Teleke, M.A., LMFT
Marriage & Family Therapist
I assist adults and couples in CA experiencing relationship challenges and interpersonal struggles including anxiety, depression, and a myriad of other life challenges.
Top Rated Answers
Accept that it has happened and that this sort of thing happens to everyone. People often unconsciously like you more if they have witnessed your embarrassment, because it shows them you are human and they will be able to relate to you more. Breathe... Does it really matter?
Spend time with family and friends who love you for you, and who make you feel seen for the person you are, not the mistakes you've made. Also, work on projects that make you happy and build your self-esteem; set positive goals and work towards achieving them, and you'll get your self-confidence back. If the humiliating experience revealed some unbecoming character traits, then confront those traits and do what you can to change for the better. Finally, just give it time: the memory of the humiliation should fade, and eventually someone else will do something humiliating and take the focus off of you. Humiliation is a uniquely human and inevitable experience: we all get our turn in this unflattering spotlight.
In my opinion, the best way to overcome an embarrassing event is to remember it happens to everyone and that you're just human and therefore not perfect, and you will make lots of mistake in your life, and that's ok. Sometimes reading/listening to others embarrassing stories makes you feel not so awkward and alone too.
I would try to focus on my day-a-day and think it as a common situation, mistakes does exist and everybody have it
If you're mad, find a way to safely take out your anger. Don't do anything drastic like self harm, perhaps buy a stress ball or go for a run. This is important, if you bottle the experience it becomes far harder to come to terms with and eventually forget.
Anonymous
December 29th, 2014 2:32am
For me, it took realising that I could not change what happened. It was done and stressing out about it was hurting me
Talk about it with a family member or friend. Try to find humor in it. Forgive yourself and be gentle with yourself. Tell yourself to let it go and try not to dwell on it.
Anonymous
January 25th, 2016 4:53pm
To accept it and analyze the situation. How or why did I get myself in this. Learn from it, and you will keep yourself out. It's really humiliating if you go through it twice.
The best way to get over a humiliating experience or a situation is to regain composure and understand slowly but surely that human beings also make mistakes. One must realize that it's okay to mistakes as it is the best way to learn.
It all depends on the severity of the situation. Some people experience humiliation when they are in an abusive relationship. If that may be the case for you, speaking to a trained therapist is probably the safest place to work through what is going on.
If that's not the situation, then I would say one of the best ways to work through it is by talking about what happened with people you trust. Shame grows when things are kept hidden. Although you may want to avoid talking about it because it can bring up difficult feelings, trying to deal with it in isolation may make your feelings worse. Talking about the humiliating experience with someone who is non-judgemental and trustworthy can help your suffering pass more quickly.
Anonymous
November 25th, 2014 1:25pm
I usually joke about the situation and brush it off or try and make it into a joke or a laugh , otherwise you could just ignore it ever happened :)
Laugh about it! You'd be surprised, but I find myself able to stop beating myself up over situations if I laugh about it either alone or with someone else.
Anonymous
December 6th, 2014 8:37am
Do something that makes you feel good, something that you are good and and proud of. This will restore your sense of pride. Better yet, reach out to someone else who is feeling down or humiliated, and support them by letting them know you care.
keep your head up! think of what happened and whats "humiliating" about it. maybe you will realize that we tend to throw a certain light on things...we are prejudiced and label people and situations. arent mistakes common? after all, we are human! so, dont be too harsh on yourself and have faith in you! a bad experience hurt you already, dont let it hurt you even more.
Learn to laugh at yourself! Humiliating things happen to everyone. Keeping these situations secret, as if they're something to be hidden, is only going to make you feel more shame and awkwardness. My suggestion? Find someone to open up to. As soon as I told some of my most humiliating things to someone - albeit a safe person I knew I could trust - I wasn't so worried about it anymore! I was able to let the whole thing go. Not that I would go around telling everyone what happened, but I'm able to feel okay about it within myself.
Anonymous
October 27th, 2020 4:01am
The best way to get over a humiliating experience or situation would be to acknowledge that the experience/situation is unfavorable & then learn to mentally accept that this single experience does not define your entire life path. It is okay to undergo imperfect circumstances. Everyone gets humiliated at times. You can also try to practice mindfulness meditation. Close your eyes and breathe. Focus on listening to your heartbeat and ease your mind's internal thought processes. Understand that you will be alright. You can surround yourself with a loving, support network of people who can empathize with your situation and not cause you further shame.
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