I'm 34 and I recently caught myself apologizing to a chair I bumped into, and my colleague laughed, but I didn't because I understood exactly where that reflex came from. When you grow up in a house where taking up space was a problem, you spend the rest of your life negotiating with furniture. - Silicon Canals

"Emotional neglect in childhood is characterized by the absence of recognition and validation of a child's feelings and emotional needs, leading to a sense of being a burden."

"Adult children who experienced CEN often struggle with recognizing their own emotions, setting boundaries, and feeling deserving of attention, resulting in behaviors like pre-emptively shrinking."

Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN) manifests as a lack of recognition and validation of a child's feelings, leading to significant emotional consequences in adulthood. Individuals who experienced CEN often struggle with recognizing their emotions, setting boundaries, and feeling deserving of attention. This neglect creates a reflexive response to shrink in social situations, resulting in behaviors like excessive apologizing and discomfort in taking up space. The impact of CEN is profound, affecting self-perception and interpersonal interactions throughout life.

Read at Silicon Canals