Feeling like you’re “too much” is often the scar left by someone who made you feel like not enough or too needy.
Dear Survivor,
I can’t tell you how many survivors I’ve met who shrink themselves before they even speak. They hesitate to share their feelings, fearing they’ll overwhelm or inconvenience someone. Many were told outright they were “too emotional” or “too sensitive.” Others weren’t told anything at all, but the silence, sighs, or side glances said it loud enough.
Being made to feel like a burden is a form of emotional invalidation.
This kind of abuse doesn’t always look like yelling or name-calling. Sometimes it’s being ignored when you cry, mocked when you share joy, or made to believe that your needs are excessive. Over time, these tactics chip away at self-worth. Survivors learn to apologize for taking up space, for having opinions, even for existing.
But your emotions are not excessive, and your presence is not a problem.
You are allowed to need, to feel, to express. These are not flaws, they are signs of life. Healing begins when you start to believe that who you are is not too much, and never was. If you’re ready to start unlearning that internalized shame, I recommend exploring Reclaiming Strength: A Workbook for Relationship Abuse Survivors. It’s a space where you can practice showing up as your full self, unapologetically.
You are not too much. You are a miracle.
Blessings and healing,
#narcissisticabuse #domesticviolence #DV #IPV #abuser #toxicrelationships #abusivepartners #emotionalabuse #narcissist #survivorstories #healingjourney #traumarecovery #relationshipabuse #abusesurvivor #mentalhealth #healingafterabuse #coercivecontrol