We all carry emotional imprints from childhood — unmet needs, painful moments, or survival strategies we had to adopt to feel loved or safe.
Psychologist Lise Bourbeau famously categorized these into five core emotional wounds:
- Abandonment
- Rejection
- Humiliation
- Injustice
- Betrayal
When these wounds are unhealed, they often manifest in self-betrayal behaviors — where we abandon, reject, or silence ourselves to avoid feeling those same wounds again.
Let’s explore how each wound leads to self-betrayal, plus the most effective ways to heal.
🔹 1. Abandonment → Overdependence & Clinging
Core fear: Being left alone, unloved, or unsupported.
Self-betrayal signs:
- Staying in toxic relationships to avoid loneliness
- Ignoring your needs to “keep” someone
- Becoming emotionally dependent on others for validation
Healing approach:
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