Advocate Now | Dr. Will Cole on Shameflammation

Cole says that shame is a "very nefarious thing" that varies within people, adding that there's still a great amount of shame around trauma and stress experienced in society.

"Not many people talk about these things because there is so much stigma around shame, definitely with unresolved trauma ... but there's also a lot of shame when it comes to chronic stress as well," he tells Sonia Baghdady of Advocate Now.

Cole notes that a lot of shame is caused by a toxic "hustle" or "grind" culture in society, sharing that burnout is sometimes seen as a "badge of honor," or a "very esteemed thing" to engage in.

"The reality is there's a lot of shame behind closed doors... I talk to people that are super successful that they aren't able to show up for their family the way that they want to," he explains. "They're kind of snapping at their partner or they're not really present because they're on their phones, distracted or they're eating foods that are quick and convenient but don't necessarily love them back. And there's a lot of shame around that."

Diet culture can also play a part in shame, as it is often stemmed in self-hatred. However, Cole says it's important to focus on science and nutrition, as those cannot be written off.

"There are some foods that don't love humans back, but it doesn't make you a bad person if you choose to eat it," Cole says. "There's not a moral indictment ... it's loving your body enough to nourish it with foods that love you back."

Cole recommends an approach that is "science-backed but still compassionate," one that uses "foods as a form of self-respect." The key, he says, is self-respect.

Cole adds that metaphysical practices can be beneficial, too, such as practicing yoga and/or tai chi, or even repeating mantras.

"I want people to find their entry point, find out what is their way for them to not just feed their body with foods that love them back, but how can you feed your head and your heart? Cole asks. "Because the words that we speak, our cells are listening to it. We have trillions of cells that are listening intently to every word we speak."

"Our bodies are like cellular libraries and the thoughts that we think, the words that we say about ourselves or our life, and unresolved trauma experiences are the books that fill up that cellular library. ... and it's going to impact how we feel," Cole states.

Cole's newest book Gut Feelings is available now. For more interviews like these, watch Advocate Now on The Advocate Channel.