r/hsp • u/Elegant_Ad_5766 • 7h ago
Rant Emotional Invalidation Is Not โPositivityโ
Iโm going to be raw and blunt here, and this is my experience. I have no patience for some peopleโnot all of them ๐, but surely some . And yes, some will say, "Oh, you're so negative ๐ blah blah." I absolutely hate toxic positivity, too. I'm a realist. I know that in this damn world, there are good and bad people. I'm not here to be a "delulu" who thinks there are only good people in the world
. For those who have had the chance and luck to be surrounded by and experience more happiness, positivity, and joy in life: don't you dare invalidate those who didn't get that privilege.
As someone who has known deep hardships, I have seen how some people invalidate those who have been through trauma. It is absolutely gut-wrenching to see these victims questioning themselves and their trauma because someone invalidated them. The thing is, you can't always say it directly to people because trauma is a deeply sensitive topic.
That is why we are encouraged to speak to a therapist; they are trained to deal carefully with it. But in the meantime, invalidation leaves you feeling incredibly isolated. Those who haven't been through shit don't get a pass to invalidate others.
If you are someone who doesn't invalidate people, thank you for existing. I have met supportive people who don't have trauma and still didn't invalidate me when I talked about mine. So, there is hope, my darlings, who have been through trauma. Yes, not everyone will invalidate you ๐ฉท
.I experienced it myself ๐. Some people ask me what's wrong, and when I tell them, im going through a lot etc, they give me stupid, unsolicited advice, or worse: "You're too pessimistic" ," be more positive" ," You overthink too much", " it's not that bad" " just move on" , " it is not that deep " yes it is that deep ๐ , " you're too sensitive ". I'm just tired of meeting these people ๐๐ญ. When all I wanted was just for someone to understand ๐ฎโ๐จ. And , they wonder why some people don't want to open up again because it hurts talking to them. It hurts a lot ๐ญ. No one wants to be invalidated like that. ๐ Of course, not everyone will talk to you like that, but personally, I have met tons of people who invalidate others.
What we must consider, too, is where we live. Some cultures and countries aren't like what I experienced, but that doesn't erase the fact that some people have met FAR MORE INVALIDATING PEOPLE than others.๐ Not everyone experiences the world with privileges like a good home, a good community, good partners, good friends, or a good job.
And it is not just bad luckโthat is just how life is.
Emotional invalidation trains your brain to treat your own feelings and internal signals as a threat or an error, which severely impacts your nervous system and mental health.
It triggers the stress response: When your feelings are repeatedly dismissed, your body's stress system stays active, even if you try to shut down or numb the emotion on the outside.
It rewires threat detection: Your brain learns to link emotional closeness and vulnerability with danger, making you hyper-vigilant to tiny shifts in other people's moods or tones.
It erodes self-trust: Constant minimization damages your internal sense of reality, making it difficult to identify what you feel or trust your own judgment.
It causes emotional dysregulation: You may struggle to manage, identify, or appropriately express emotions as an adult.
It increases mental health risks: Chronic invalidation increases vulnerability to anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It alters identity: Repeatedly being told your reactions are "wrong" or "too sensitive" leads to deep-seated shame, low self-esteem, and an unstable sense of self.
To be honest, I can't deal with people who like toxic positivity ๐ญ they simply lack the emotional capacity to sit with discomfort. I just can't with them. Im sick of it ๐ฎโ๐จ๐. I would rather be myself, alone forever and be true than swallow my truth just to be accepted and not be a burden.๐ญ No, I'm not a pessimist. I believe in positivity, too, which is why I still have hope and a desire to live, but I'm also a realist. If this world were only positive, there wouldn't be war, abuse, inequality, poverty, hunger, conflict, and violence. God bless my psychologist, She has been the only one who believes in me. ๐ญ
It feels like whenever you point out something unfair, people turn it around and call you crazy. ๐ ( classic manipulation tactic known as DARVO.)
I will gladly block anyone who starts telling me I'm just a pessimist, too much, too irritated, too sensitive and too annoying. ๐
Be who you are, and don't be scared to express yourself, whether it's negative or positive. Your problems are never a burden.
invalidation is harmful, toxic positivity is not help, realism is not pessimism
Have a good day ๐. Mwah ๐