What Is the Inner Child?
Every adult has an inner child. It is the part of our psyche that reflects our childhood experiences, including our feelings, emotional states, and reactions. The inner child does not disappear as we age. It stays with us throughout our lives and can reveal itself through our desires, behaviors, and responses to different situations.
Unfortunately, we do not always maintain a strong connection with this part of ourselves. A suppressed inner child means that you have difficulty recognizing, hearing, or connecting with the feelings and needs associated with your childhood experiences.
How Do You Know If Your Inner Child Is Suppressed?
The signs of a suppressed inner child may appear in the way you relate to yourself and other people. Here are five common patterns to look for.
1. You Struggle With Mistrust
You may mistrust yourself, including your own feelings, judgment, and decisions. As a result, you may also find it difficult to trust other people.
2. You Feel Lonely, Even Around Others
You may experience a persistent sense of loneliness, even when you are spending time with someone. Being in another person’s company does not always make you feel emotionally connected or less alone.
3. You Feel Shy or Afraid to Express Yourself
Expressing yourself may feel difficult, awkward, or frightening. You may also feel deeply uncomfortable whenever you become the center of attention.
4. You Depend on Other People’s Approval
You may depend heavily on other people’s opinions and moods. You might be afraid to refuse a request because you worry that saying no will offend the other person and cause them to reject you.
When you are constantly concerned about what others think of you, you may be more likely to enter dependent relationships. Your choices can begin to revolve around avoiding rejection rather than listening to your own feelings.
5. You Are Overly Demanding of Yourself
You may set extremely high expectations for yourself, rarely feel satisfied with what you achieve, and frequently engage in self-criticism. No matter how much you do, it may still feel as though it is not enough.
Why Connecting With Your Inner Child Matters
Our inner child is responsible for creativity, spontaneity, and enjoyment, which is why staying connected to this part of your personality is so important. Yes, it can sometimes be moody and needy—and may even make you reach for cookies in the middle of the night.
However, when we live in harmony with every part of our personality and listen to each part equally, life can become simpler, fuller, and happier. Recognizing your inner child is an important part of remaining connected to yourself.
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