Emotional invalidation communicates that the feelings we are feeling are somehow wrong or bad. This makes it difficult to understand what we are feeling if we can’t accept it and process it.
The act of having our emotions invalidated in and of itself yields more feelings of loneliness since we don’t feel understood or connected to the person that invalidated us; even if that person is us.
Invalidation weakens our connection with others and increases feelings of loneliness, while validation does the opposite. Validation helps us feel more connected to others and problem solve more effectively.
Practicing empathy can combat the urge to emotionally invalidate others and can help make us more emotionally aware of others and ourselves.