Dr. Gabor Maté explains that when we suppress our authentic emotions—especially as children trying to stay safe or accepted—we often disconnect from our gut instinct. This disconnection from self also severs our ability to trust our intuition. He writes, “Authenticity is the connection to our true selves, and when we sacrifice that in order to stay attached, we lose access to our internal guidance system.”
Maté, G. (2003). When the body says no: The cost of hidden stress. Vintage Canada.
Maté, G., & Maté, D. (2022). The myth of normal: Trauma, illness, and healing in a toxic culture. Avery.