I remember when my hands were covered in eczema, they were sore, bloody scabs that were raw to look at. I was ashamed of the state of my hands to the extent I would sit on them so nobody saw.

I tried everything to get rid of the eczema – creams, lotions, even potions from a homeopath. Nothing worked. Then one day I read something about how eczema (especially on the hands) was linked to repressed emotions, that was the day everything changed…

The shadow is the part of ourselves we don’t like and try to hide, it’s primarily made up of the parts of ourselves we find unacceptable. The term – the shadow, was made popular by the psychoanalyst Carl Jung. He saw the shadow as the uncivilised part of ourselves.

How Do We Get Rid Of The Shadow Self?

We don’t get rid of the shadow self. It’s a case of learning to recognise the shadow and cultivate an energy of self-acceptance. It is the “dark side” of our personality which consists of primitive, negative human emotions such as rage, envy, greed, selfishness, desire and striving for power. These are unexamined or disowned parts of the self that don’t go anywhere according to Jung, we repress them in an attempt to cast them out.

Jung believed the shadow cannot just be eradicated. Instead, it needs to be confronted and integrated. An unacknowledged shadow leads to projection. Projection is where we see the annoying aspects of another person because we don’t acknowledge them in ourself.

How Can You Confront the Shadow?

Here's how you might begin the journey:

1. Reflection: You can start by reflecting on personal reactions, especially extreme or emotional reactions to others. Often, what irritates us in others is a reflection of our own shadow.

2. Dream Analysis: Jung believed dreams were a window into the unconscious. By analysing our dreams, we might gain insights into aspects of our shadow self.

3. Engage in Active Imagination: This technique involves entering a meditative state and allowing the subconscious to speak, often through visualization or internal dialogue. Over time, this can provide direct communication with the shadow.

Carl Jung's concept of the shadow self challenges us to confront the deepest and most hidden parts of our psyche. It’s not an easy journey, but one that promises profound self-awareness and growth.

For me, it was the acknowledgement of deep emotional fear as a child that healed my eczema. The acknowledgement led to the sudden healing of my hands. I actively explored my shadow to find a rageful and frustrated little child within. Once this was integrated I have never been troubled by eczema again.