Have you ever shared your heart, only to hear:
“You’re overreacting.”
“You just need to move on.”
“It’s not that serious.”
If so, you’ve experienced emotional invalidation–when someone dismisses, minimizes, or ignores your emotions. Over time, this can lead to self-doubt, emotional suppression, and a deep sense of loneliness. But here’s the truth: God never dismisses your emotions. He meets you in them.
This blog will help you understand emotional invalidation, how it affects you, and most importantly, how to heal and reclaim your voice.
What Is Emotional Invalidation?
Emotional invalidation happens when someone disregards or diminishes your feelings, making you feel like your emotions are wrong, exaggerated, or unimportant. This can happen in relationships, workplaces, churches, or even within your own mind.
Examples of Emotional Invalidation:
❌ “That shouldn’t bother you.”
❌ “You’re too emotional.”
❌ “You’re making a big deal out of nothing.”
❌ “Other people have it worse.”
❌ “Just pray about it and move on.”
Even when people mean well, these phrases can be damaging because they shut down emotional expression instead of fostering understanding.
How Emotional Invalidation Affects You
When your emotions are repeatedly dismissed, it can lead to:
Self-Doubt – “Maybe I really am overreacting.”
Emotional Suppression – You stop expressing your feelings to avoid judgment.
Anxiety & Stress – Unprocessed emotions can build up, causing emotional overload.
Disconnection in Relationships – You may struggle to feel seen and heard in close relationships.
Spiritual Disconnect – You may even feel like God doesn’t care about your emotions.
But here’s the good news: Healing is possible.
God Acknowledges Your Emotions
Unlike people who may dismiss your feelings, God never tells you to “just get over it.” The Bible is filled with examples of God meeting people in their emotions, not dismissing them.
Biblical Truths About Emotions:
God sees your pain – “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)
Jesus responds with compassion – Before raising the widow’s son, Jesus was moved with compassion and spoke gently to her grief (Luke 7:13-14).
God welcomes honesty – David poured out his emotions before God in the Psalms, showing us that we can bring our raw emotions to Him.
How to Heal from Emotional Invalidation
Healing starts with acknowledging what has happened and learning how to honor your emotions in a way that aligns with God’s truth. Here are some steps to help you begin:
1. Recognize When You’ve Been Invalidated
Ask yourself:
Have I been told my feelings are “too much” or “not real”?
Have I started suppressing my emotions to avoid conflict?
Have I doubted my own feelings because of others’ reactions?
If so, acknowledge that your emotions are real, and they matter.
2. Stop Invalidating Yourself
Sometimes, after years of experiencing invalidation, we start dismissing our own feelings. Instead of saying:
🚫 “I shouldn’t feel this way.”
🚫 “It’s not a big deal.”
Try saying:
✅ “I am allowed to feel this.”
✅ “My emotions are real, and I will honor them.”
3. Set Boundaries with People Who Invalidate You
You don’t have to engage in conversations that make you feel unheard. If someone repeatedly dismisses your emotions, try saying:
“I need to be able to share my feelings without being dismissed.”
“If you can’t listen with understanding, let’s talk later.”
Setting boundaries helps protect your emotional and spiritual well-being.
4. Seek Safe, Supportive Spaces
If you’ve been emotionally invalidated, surround yourself with people who listen, support, and affirm your feelings. This may be:
✅ A trusted friend or mentor
✅ A Christian counselor or therapist
✅ A supportive faith-based community
5. Bring Your Emotions to God
The safest place to bring your emotions is before the One who created you. Try this:
Journaling Prayer: Write down what you’re feeling, then ask God to speak truth over those emotions.
Breathing Prayer: As you inhale, say, “God, You understand me.” As you exhale, say, “I release the need for human validation.”
Scripture Meditation: Find a Bible verse that affirms your emotions and read it aloud over yourself.
Final Encouragement: Your Emotions Matter to God
If you’ve ever felt dismissed, unseen, or unheard, know this: God sees you. He doesn’t rush you past your emotions. He meets you in them, comforts you, and offers healing.
You don’t have to silence yourself to be strong. You don’t have to prove your emotions are valid. They already are.
I’d love to hear from you. Have you ever experienced emotional invalidation? How did you handle it? Let me know.
