Emotional Invalidation (Distinct from criticism)
A developmental environment where a person’s internal emotional experiences were dismissed, minimized, misunderstood, or treated as inappropriate, exaggerated, or inconvenient. Rather than being corrected or criticized for behaviour, emotions themselves may have been ignored, reframed, or denied (e.g., being told one “shouldn’t feel that way”). Over time, this can shape difficulty identifying or trusting one’s emotions, reliance on external cues to determine how one “should” feel, and a sense that internal experiences are unreliable or unacceptable.
“I Am Fragile”
This belief creates a constant fear of falling apart under stress. Even small challenges feel like too much.…
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“I Am Unworthy”
When you feel unworthy, nothing ever feels earned. This belief fuels overfunctioning, self-neglect, and guilt around rest, care,…
“Bad Things Are Going To Happen”
Always on edge. Always preparing for the worst. This belief doesn’t keep you safe — it keeps you…
“I Am Disgusting”
The “I Am Disgusting” belief forms when natural emotions or bodily functions were shamed, leading to identity-level avoidance,…
ADHD
ADHD isn’t just about focus — it’s about the internal rulebook that says you’re always falling behind. At…
Depression
Depression is more than low mood — it’s a signal from an outdated internal system. At ShiftGrit, we…
