Typical methods used by others to downplay our emotions

Sometimes we think that others are ignoring our feelings and emotions. Setting limits and making sure we take a stance are all necessary when learning how to behave in a healthy way in such situations. Therapist Klara Kernig noted, “It’s about knowing how to respond and understanding their impact.” Here are some strategies that people could use to minimize their emotions.

Minimizing: People often attempt to downplay our emotions by criticizing us for having a reaction or response that differs from their own.

Deflecting attention: They could attempt to diffuse the issue by ignoring our feelings and focusing only on themselves.

Placing blame is a poisonous tactic used by some to minimize our feelings. They could attempt to put the blame on us for our emotions.

Invalidating our experiences is a manipulation tactic used by someone who wants to make us doubt our perception of reality.

Dismissing our sentiments outright: In an attempt to minimize our feelings, some people may try to avoid talking to us or to completely disregard them.