Why You Feel Drained and Depressed After Being Vulnerable
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like you had to be vulnerable? Maybe it’s when you told your partner about something that happened at work or home, or perhaps it was opening up about something personal to a friend or family member.
Whatever the reason, once the vulnerability is out there and no longer secreted away inside of yourself, it can feel scary — especially if what comes next is judgment or criticism from someone else. It’s an unfortunate cycle: We let ourselves be open and vulnerable with someone only to find out they don’t respect us as much as we thought they did. But why does this happen? Why do we feel drained and depressed after being vulnerable? Here are some reasons why this happens:
Vulnerability can intensify negative feelings and make your emotions feel larger.
You’re feeling more emotional. For example, you might feel sadder or notice unpleasant emotions (like anxiety) more strongly than usual. That’s because being vulnerable can make you feel more sensitive to your feelings and the emotions of others, according to Dr. Smith-McKeever.
You’re noticing more of what’s going on around you in general. “Vulnerability is a gateway emotion that opens up the floodgates for other feelings…
