When your emotional expressions were consistently dismissed or punished in childhood, you learned to become a master of *emotional self-control*. You developed incredible ability to read subtle cues about when your feelings were welcome or unwelcome. This taught you exceptional **patience and perseverance**, making you incredibly **considerate of others' emotional capacity** and skilled at creating safe spaces for people to express themselves. But your nervous system never learned that your feelings could exist at a `steady, consistent volume` rather than requiring dramatic amplification to be heard. You find yourself `automatically minimizing` your emotions to avoid being a burden and then *exploding in theatrical displays* when the pressure becomes unbearable—this strategy is a result of a childhood where steady emotional expression was not an option 🎭. This leaves your partner astounded: "You were a paragon of stoicism. And now a blow-up! What gives?"

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