Am I emotionally dismissive? Signs you might be without realising it

Most people don’t think of themselves as emotionally dismissive.

But if emotional conversations make you uncomfortable, overwhelming, or something you instinctively try to shut down, this episode will help you figure out why.

In Snack Size Deep Dive 9 of the Things We Say in Therapy Podcast, we explore emotional dismissiveness: what it actually looks like, why it happens, and how it’s often rooted in a low tolerance for emotional discomfort rather than a lack of care.

This episode covers:

• What emotionally dismissive behaviour looks like in everyday interactions
• Why minimising, fixing, joking, or changing the subject is often a defence mechanism
• How dismissiveness slowly damages emotional safety and connection
• The difference between being dismissive because you care vs being emotionally unsafe
• How to catch yourself in real time without shame or self-abandonment
• How to respond to other people’s emotions with validation instead of avoidance

Dismissing emotions doesn’t make you a bad person.
 It’s usually something you learned to survive.

But awareness is what turns protection into connection.

If this episode feels uncomfortable, that’s not a problem, it’s information. Sit with it.