I’m with the other commenters. You can regain those feelings of security and dignity. Therapy can help. Sometimes it takes time to find the right therapist, so pay attention to how you feel with the person. Feeling a better connection will mean more effective work often. Don’t hesitate to be choosy.

You know the thoughts and feelings are not rational it seems, so it just remains to find out why/how you are hooked onto them.

If you live in the US you might be able to use the website www.psychologytoday.com to find a therapist. There are probably similar sites in other countries. If payment is a barrier, look for a therapist who says they have a ‘sliding scale’, ask them how it works.

It's a somewhat complex topic with a lot of individual variation but generally speaking:

• it's going to have whatever significance it has to you personally. It's an event in your memory and is wholly subject to your brain and it's unique structure and experiences.
• it doesn't have to make sense, and such experiences are, famously, the hardest to make sense of.
• fortunately dignity is also an intrinsic / internal quality and very possible for you to regain.
• highly recommend EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing) to help you process the event towards something less distressing in a controlled, supported, and slightly accelerated manner.
• EMDR can be a bit rough / drag stuff back up and you have to be ready for that. If you're not ready for that you will probably still get some relief from other modalities / styles provided you have a therapist who's a good fit.

I agree with the other commenter, EMDR could work, but there are other techniques and everyone is different.
And I just wanted to agree strongly that dignity is something that can be built and regained, like confidence or physical gains. Nobody can take it away from you once you've worked to get it.