Dallas Bragg describes the invisible child pattern: kids who lack validation withdraw and suppress their needs to avoid rejection. They become self-sufficient and seem easy to handle, but learn their authentic self is dangerous, leading to chronic inauthenticity and hidden connections.
There's children who don't get consistent validation for who they are. They unconsciously choose, right? There's 2 survival strategies that usually come up. One is the invisible child. Some children decide the safest thing for them is to just disappear. Don't be seen, don't be heard. They suppress their needs. They become self-sufficient. They develop these rich fantasy worlds. They think, if I don't need anything from anyone, I'm safe. I can't be rejected. These children become very mature very quickly, very independent. They're easy, but they're paying a price. They're learning that their authentic self is too dangerous to reveal, that connection is going to require hiding who they really are. They're never truly authentic.
