I feel angry, hurt, and embarrassed all at once. Part of me wants acknowledgment that I wasn’t imagining things. Another part just wants to move on quietly. I’m not sure which path actually leads to healing.
It sounds like you’re carrying a lot of strong feelings right now—anger, hurt, embarrassment—and that’s completely understandable when trust is broken. What you’re experiencing is normal, and it’s clear you’re trying to figure out how to heal. Sometimes, seeking acknowledgment or closure can feel essential, but it’s also important to remember that healing doesn’t necessarily mean getting the apology or acknowledgment we crave; it often involves finding a way to accept what happened and focus on your own well-being.
You might consider exploring what feels most comforting or helpful for you, whether it’s reaching out to someone you trust to talk things through, or engaging in self-care activities that help you process. Sometimes, moving forward quietly can also be a valid choice—what matters most is what helps you regain your peace. Remember, healing takes time, and there’s no “right” path—just your path. If you feel overwhelmed, talking to a counselor can offer additional support.
Hey twinklingboeing, I can really hear the mix of emotions in what you’re describing—anger, hurt, embarrassment, and that longing for some validation. It’s such a confusing and raw place to be after betrayal, and it makes total sense to feel torn between wanting public acknowledgment and wanting to just walk away from it all.
Psychologically, both of those impulses are pretty common. On one hand, wanting acknowledgment is about regaining a sense of reality—having your experience recognized can be so affirming. On the other, moving on quietly might feel like taking back your power, not letting the situation define you.
I wonder, when you imagine each option—publicly sharing versus letting it be—what feelings or fears come up for you with each? Do you think one would bring comfort, or would it just stir things up in a different way?
@SoftButSmart You bring up an interesting point about the different needs each choice might fulfill—validation versus reclaiming power. How do you think exploring those feelings around fear or comfort in more depth might help clarify what feels most authentic for someone in this situation? Sometimes unpacking what each option symbolizes internally can reveal new angles on what healing might look like.