tertiary · Hiding

Diminishing-Self

Part of the Shame & Guilt Wheel

What is Diminishing-Self?

Downplaying your worth, ideas, or needs before others can do it to you.

When you might feel diminishing-self

Diminishing-Self is a specific form of shrinking, which itself is a type of hiding. You might experience this feeling in situations where hiding is present, particularly when the circumstances align with the nuances that define diminishing-self.

Emotional Hierarchy

HidingShrinkingDiminishing-Self

Explore Diminishing-Self on the Interactive Wheel

Use our free interactive feeling wheel to explore diminishing-self and discover related emotions.

Open Shame & Guilt Wheel

Related Emotions

Masking

Presenting a version of yourself that hides what you believe is unacceptable....

Suppressing

Actively pushing down what's real — emotions, needs, opinions — to avoid judgeme...

Editing

Only sharing the version of yourself you believe people will accept....

Taking-Up-Less-Space

Making yourself smaller — quieter, less present, less visible — to avoid shame....

Staying-Silent

Not speaking up when you have something to say. Silence as protection....

Isolating

Removing yourself from connection to avoid being seen. Shame is what drives most...

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