The refusal to be vulnerable is exhausting AF.
I spent so many years of my life not willing to be vulnerable. I didn’t realize it at the time. To me, I was just being strong.
Don’t show those big bad emotions. Smile & be positive. Don’t let anyone worry. You’ll cause stress. Don’t show your struggles. You don’t need help. You shouldn’t feel this way.
It’s a defense mechanism. Self-protection, really. If I can guard myself (and others) from these “negative” emotions, if I can ignore them, they’ll go away and I won’t have to feel them. It’s better, safer, easier, we tell ourselves.
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