Feb. 23, 2026

Why Don’t I Trust Myself After Childhood Emotional Abuse?

Self-trust develops when emotional experiences are validated.

When emotional experiences are denied or invalidated, self-trust can weaken.

Children learn to question their own emotional reality.

This pattern often continues into adulthood.

Emotional Invalidation Weakens Self-Trust

Repeated emotional invalidation teaches the child that their emotional perceptions cannot be trusted.

They may rely on external validation rather than internal emotional awareness.

Long-Term Effects

Many survivors struggle with:

Decision-making
Emotional awareness
Confidence in their judgment

Understanding emotional abuse helps restore emotional clarity and rebuild self-trust.