Uncategorized – LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

Masking is the conscious or unconscious process of hiding,…

Masking is the conscious or unconscious process of hiding, suppressing, or changing parts of yourself so that you appear more socially acceptable or less noticeable to others.

In psychology, masking may involve:

Hiding emotions such as sadness, anxiety, anger, or fear
Pretending to understand something when you do not
Suppressing natural behaviors or mannerisms
Copying other people’s social behavior
Rehearsing conversations or carefully monitoring what you say
Forcing eye contact, facial expressions, or gestures
Acting cheerful when you are distressed
Avoiding behaviors that might attract negative attention

Masking and neurodivergence

The term may be particularly common when discussing autism and ADHD. A person may consciously or unconsciously imitate neurotypical social behavior to fit in, avoid stigma, or prevent rejection.

For example:

An autistic person might suppress repetitive movements, force themselves to maintain eye contact, or memorize conversational scripts.

Masking vs. ordinary social adaptation

Not all adjustment is pathological. Everyone modifies behavior depending on context. Masking becomes more concerning when it is persistent, exhausting, distressing, or requires someone to repeatedly suppress important aspects of themselves.

Long-term masking may be associated with:

Emotional exhaustion and burnout
Anxiety and depression
Reduced sense of identity or authenticity
Low self-esteem
Increased stress
Feeling that others don’t really know the “real” you

In simple terms:

Masking: “I’m hiding or modifying parts of myself so I may fit in, avoid judgment, or feel safer.”

Masking may also occur in trauma, social anxiety, minority stress, and other situations not only autism or ADHD.

Shervan K Shahhian

Internalized Ableism may be when a disabled person unconsciously absorbs society’s negative beliefs,…

Internalized Ableism may be when a disabled person unconsciously absorbs society’s negative beliefs, stereotypes, or prejudices about disability and begins applying them to themselves.

Instead of recognizing that many challenges come from inaccessible environments or social attitudes, a person may come to believe things like:

“I’m a burden.”

“I should be able to do everything without help.”

“If I need accommodations, I’m weak.”

“My disability makes me less valuable than other people.”

“I have to overwork myself to prove I’m capable.”

These beliefs may develop because of repeated exposure to ableist messages from family, school, work, healthcare, media, or broader culture, not because they are true.

Common signs

Internalized ableism may show up as:

Feeling guilty for asking for accommodations.

Hiding or minimizing a disability.

Comparing yourself to nondisabled standards and feeling like a failure.

Pushing yourself beyond your limits to “keep up.”

Judging yourself (or sometimes other disabled people) for needing support.

Believing independence is always better than interdependence.

Examples

Someone with chronic pain forces themselves to attend every social event because they think canceling would make them “lazy.”

A person who needs a mobility aid avoids using it in public because they’re embarrassed about how others might perceive them.

An autistic person suppresses natural behaviors (sometimes called masking) even when it causes significant exhaustion, because they feel they must appear “normal.”

Moving away from internalized ableism

Changing these beliefs may involve:

Noticing self-critical thoughts and asking where they came from.

Learning about disability from disability led perspectives.

Viewing accommodations as tools for equity rather than special treatment.

Practicing self-compassion and recognizing that needing support is a normal part of being human.

Connecting with disabled communities where disability is accepted rather than stigmatized.

Internalized ableism may not be a personal failing, it could be a response to living in a society where ableist attitudes are common. Becoming aware of it may be the first step toward developing a more accepting and realistic view of yourself and your needs.

Shervan K Shahhian

What you may do if you have been going through Chronic Bullying:

“Please, Seek Psychological and Legal Support.”

If you have been experiencing ongoing or repeated bullying, it is important to please take it seriously. Chronic bullying may affect psychological safety, self-esteem, relationships, concentration, sleep, and overall functioning.

What you may do

1-Recognize that it isn’t your fault.

2-Being repeatedly targeted does not mean you deserve the treatment or caused it.

3-Document what is happening.

4-Keep a factual record of dates, locations, people involved, what happened, witnesses, messages, emails, screenshots, or other evidence.

5-Set boundaries when it is safe.

6-A brief, firm response may be appropriate: “Do not speak to me that way.” Avoid escalating the situation if doing so could put you at greater risk.

7-Tell the authorities and someone trustworthy.

8-Depending on the setting, this could be a supervisor, HR representative, teacher, school administrator, family member, or another person who may intervene.

9-Reduce unnecessary exposure.

10-When possible, change routines, use safer environments, block abusive online accounts, and avoid being isolated with the person responsible.

11-Seek psychological and legal support.

12-A qualified mental health professional may help with the effects of prolonged bullying, including anxiety, shame, hypervigilance, withdrawal, loss of confidence, or trauma related symptoms.

13-Address the psychological aftermath, not just the bullying itself.

Chronic bullying may sometimes lead to learned helplessness, internalized criticism, social withdrawal, emotional dysregulation, or a persistent expectation of being attacked or rejected. These reactions may be treated.

14-If there are threats or physical danger, prioritize safety.

Get away from the immediate situation and contact appropriate emergency or protective resources rather than confronting the aggressor yourself.

15-An important distinction

If you have been expressing chronic bullying toward other people, in other words, you recognize that you have been repeatedly bullying others, the appropriate response is different. It involves taking responsibility, stopping the behavior, repairing harm where appropriate, and examining what is driving the behavior?

Possible, legal and psychological aspects and what to do next?

If you are experiencing chronic/repeated bullying, there are both psychological and legal dimensions. Depending in the country, state, city you live in,, the legal information below is general information, not individualized legal advice. “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

1. Psychological aspects

Chronic bullying may be more than an unpleasant interpersonal conflict. Repeated exposure to humiliation, intimidation, exclusion, threats, or harassment can create a prolonged stress response.

Possible effects may include:

Hypervigilance: constantly watching for the next attack

Anxiety, fear, irritability, or anger

Reduced self-esteem and self-confidence

Shame or self-blame

Social withdrawal and isolation

Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

Sleep disturbance

Depression or loss of motivation

Feeling powerless or trapped

Learned helplessness

Trauma related symptoms in some individuals

Certain Department’s of Education may recognize psychological intimidation, exclusion, rumor spreading, and similar conduct as forms of bullying; cyberbullying may also occur through technology.

Importantly, having psychological symptoms does not by itself establish that a particular person legally caused them. That’s one reason objective documentation is important.

2. Legal aspects: “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

There may not be one universal offense called “chronic bullying?” The legal consequences depend heavily on what was actually done, who did it, where it occurred, and the relationship between the parties.

Conduct that looks like bullying may potentially involve other legal issues, for example: “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

threats or violence

stalking

harassment

discriminatory or sexual harassment

employment discrimination

cyberbullying

assault or other criminal conduct

civil claims

violations of an existing restraining order

For example:

Certain courts may allow a civil harassment restraining order against someone who has harassed, threatened, physically or emotionally harmed, or stalked you, including conduct occurring online. A qualifying order may impose no contact and stay away requirements. “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

A judge may potentially issue temporary protection quickly, while a longer term civil harassment restraining order can last up to five years. “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

If the bullying is occurring at work, however, the legal analysis is more complicated. Workplace bullying may be unlawful merely because it is abusive or cruel; additional facts may matter, such as whether the conduct involves a legally protected characteristic or another prohibited form of conduct. Certain Civil Rights Department’s specifically addresses employment discrimination and harassment under state law. “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

3. What you may do next: “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

First, stop trying to prove the entire situation at once. Establish a factual record.

Example: Create a chronological log:

Date What happened Who was involved Witnesses Evidence Effect

08/26/26 Specific behavior Person(s) Names Email/text/video Missed work, anxiety, etc.

Keep original emails, texts, voicemails, screenshots, photographs, letters, and other records. Don’t alter them.

Example:

1. Separate facts from interpretations.

Write “John doe sent three messages between 9:00–9:15 PM saying X” rather than “John doe was psychologically manipulating me.”

2. Preserve evidence safely.

Don’t rely exclusively on an account or device that another person might control.

3. Avoid retaliation.

Don’t threaten, repeatedly contact, publicly shame, or attempt to “get even” with the person. That will complicate matters considerably.

4. Report through the appropriate channel.

Depending on circumstances, that could be an employer/HR, school administrator, platform, landlord, law enforcement, or another responsible authority.

5. Consider professional psychological support.

A therapist may help you distinguish the actual external behavior from the psychological effects it has produced and work on restoring psychological safety, boundaries, confidence, and functioning.

6. Consider legal consultation if the conduct is persistent or escalating.

An attorney or legal aid organization may determine whether the facts support a specific legal remedy. Certain courts also may provide self-help information for civil harassment restraining orders.

4. If you are considering a restraining order “Please, Consult with a Qualified Lawyer.”

The court may need specific conduct and specific events?

For example:

“Between June 4 and July 29, the respondent contacted me 27 times after I asked them to stop. On July 12, they threatened me by text. On July 20, they followed me from my workplace to my car. I have retained the messages and have two witnesses.”

That is substantially more useful legally than:

“I’ve been psychologically bullied for months.”

Certain court forms specifically ask for details concerning harassment, stalking, threats, or harm and what protection you are requesting.

One important distinction

If by “chronic bullying” you mean something different, such as a person repeatedly bullying you psychologically, socially, online, at work, or through stalking, the appropriate legal strategy may be very different. Please consult with a qualified lawyer for assistance.

Shervan K Shahhian

Chronic Bullying refers to repeated, and ongoing bullying:

Chronic Bullying refers to repeated, ongoing bullying behavior over an extended period, rather than a single isolated incident. It may occur in childhood, adolescence, adulthood, schools, workplaces, families, communities, or online.

Common forms

Verbal: insults, humiliation, threats, ridicule, degrading comments
Social/relational: exclusion, spreading rumors, deliberate isolation, reputation attacks
Psychological: intimidation, manipulation, coercive control, persistent harassment
Physical: hitting, pushing, damaging belongings, or other physical aggression
Cyberbullying: repeated harassment, threats, humiliation, or targeting through digital platforms

Why chronic bullying may be particularly harmful

When bullying is persistent, the person may begin to experience a prolonged sense of threat and lack of safety.

Over time, this may contribute to:

Anxiety and hypervigilance
Depression and hopelessness
Low self-esteem or shame
Social withdrawal and loneliness
Difficulty trusting other people
Sleep disturbances
Problems with concentration and attention
Feelings of helplessness or powerlessness
Increased sensitivity to criticism or rejection
Trauma related symptoms in some individuals

A particularly important psychological concept is learned helplessness:

After repeated experiences of being unable to stop or escape mistreatment, a person may eventually feel that nothing they do will make a difference.

Chronic bullying vs. Ordinary conflict

Conflict: generally involves disagreement between people who have relatively comparable power and may be capable of resolving the problem.

Bullying: typically involves repeated harmful behavior, a power imbalance or perceived inability to defend oneself, and a pattern of intimidation, humiliation, exclusion, or aggression.

Chronic Bullying:

May therefore become more than simply “being treated badly.” The persistent pattern and the person’s inability to feel safe or escape the behavior are particularly important.

Shervan K Shahhian

Trauma and Healing refers to the process of recovering,…

Trauma and Healing refers to the process of recovering from the psychological, emotional, cognitive, and sometimes physical effects of overwhelming or distressing experiences.

What is trauma?

Trauma may occur when an experience overwhelms a person’s ability to cope or creates a lasting sense of threat, helplessness, or loss of safety. Examples may include:

Abuse, neglect, or violence
Serious accidents or medical events
Loss of a loved one
War or displacement
Chronic bullying, harassment, or stalking
Repeated exposure to frightening or unsafe environments
Interpersonal betrayal or abandonment

Not everyone exposed to the same event develops lasting trauma symptoms.

What may trauma affect?

Trauma may influence:

Emotions: fear, anger, shame, guilt, emotional numbness
Thinking: intrusive memories, negative beliefs, difficulty concentrating
Body: hyperarousal, sleep problems, muscle tension, startle responses
Relationships: mistrust, avoidance, difficulty with intimacy
Behavior: withdrawal, compulsive behaviors, substance use, or excessive vigilance
Sense of self: diminished self-worth, helplessness, or feeling disconnected from oneself

What does healing involve?

Trauma healing is generally may not be about forgetting what happened. It is about developing greater safety, integration, flexibility, and control over one’s responses.

A trauma informed healing process may involve:

Safety and stabilization: establishing physical and psychological safety.
Understanding: learning how trauma may affect the mind, body, emotions, and behavior.
Emotional regulation: developing skills for managing overwhelming emotions and physiological arousal.
Processing: carefully working through traumatic memories and meanings when appropriate.
Reconnecting: rebuilding relationships, identity, purpose, and everyday functioning.
Meaning making: developing a sense of meaning or personal growth without minimizing the trauma.

Approaches such as CBT, EMDR, CPT, Prolonged Exposure, DBT skills, mindfulness-based interventions, and other trauma focused therapies May be appropriate depending on the individual and the nature of the trauma.

An important distinction:

Healing does may not necessarily mean that a person never feels distress again. It may mean that the traumatic experience becomes something that happened to them rather than something that continues to control their present life.

Shervan K Shahhian

Psychological Safety is the shared belief within a team or group:

Psychological Safety is the shared belief within a team or group that people can speak up, ask questions, admit mistakes, share ideas, or challenge opinions without fear of embarrassment, punishment, or retaliation.

Psychologically safe teams learn faster, innovate more, and perform better because members feel comfortable taking interpersonal risks.

Key characteristics of a psychologically safe environment

People freely ask questions when they don’t understand something.

Team members admit mistakes and learn from them instead of hiding them.

Everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, even if they are unconventional.

Constructive disagreement is encouraged and respected.

Feedback is given and received without fear of blame or humiliation.

Leaders listen actively and respond with curiosity rather than judgment.

Why it matters

Psychological safety can lead to:

Better teamwork and collaboration.

Increased innovation and creativity.

Faster learning and continuous improvement.

Higher employee engagement and job satisfaction.

Reduced stress associated with speaking up.

Example

Imagine a project meeting where a junior employee notices a potential error in the plan.

Low psychological safety: The employee stays silent because they’re afraid of being criticized or ignored.

High psychological safety: The employee raises the concern, the team discusses it respectfully, and the issue is resolved before it becomes a bigger problem.

What psychological safety is not

It does not mean:

Avoiding difficult conversations.

Lowering performance standards.

Agreeing with everyone.

Never giving critical feedback.

Instead: it combines high standards with an environment where people feel safe to contribute, learn, and improve.

A simple way to think about it is:

Psychological safety: “It’s safe to speak up here.”

Shervan K Shahhian

Psychological Paralysis (PP) may occur in people exposed to chronic stalking:

“Chronic Stalking may contribute to escalating anger, desperation, and sudden violent retaliation against the stalkers, (The Straw That Broke The Camels Back), Stalking victims should report the stalking to the appropriate authorities and seek support to help protect themselves, their families safety and well being.”

Psychological Paralysis may occur in people exposed to chronic stalking, although

It may describe a state in which persistent fear, hypervigilance, uncertainty, and perceived lack of control become so overwhelming that the person has difficulty thinking clearly, making decisions, taking action, or functioning normally.

How chronic stalking may contribute

Repeated unwanted surveillance, following, threats, harassment, or intrusion can create a prolonged threat response state:

Perceived ongoing threat, hypervigilance, exhaustion, cognitive overload, reduced sense of control, behavioral inhibition

The person may experience:

Freeze/immobility: feeling unable to act despite wanting to.
Indecisiveness: difficulty determining what to do next.
Cognitive fog: concentration and working memory may deteriorate under sustained stress.
Hypervigilance: constantly scanning for signs of danger.
Avoidance: avoiding places, people, activities, or communication.
Loss of agency: feeling that “Nothing I do will make a difference.”
Learned helplessness: repeated experiences of being unable to stop or escape an unwanted situation can produce passivity and hopelessness.
Emotional numbing or dissociation: feeling detached, unreal, or emotionally shut down.
Sleep disturbance and exhaustion: which can further impair attention, judgment, and emotional regulation.

Why it can feel like “paralysis”

A person may intellectually know, “I need to do something,” while their nervous system is essentially responding:

“I don’t know what is safe to do, and I can’t risk making the wrong move.”

This can produce a freeze response rather than the more familiar fight or flight response.

Importantly, this doesn’t necessarily mean the person is weak or incapable. Freezing can be an adaptive defensive response to perceived inescapable threat.

A useful clinical distinction

“Psychological paralysis” can overlap with several established concepts, including:

Concept	Central feature
Freeze response	Temporary behavioral inhibition during perceived danger
Chronic hypervigilance	Persistent scanning for potential threats
Learned helplessness	Expectation that one’s actions won’t change the outcome
Trauma-related avoidance	Attempts to reduce exposure to reminders or perceived danger
Dissociation	Detachment from one’s thoughts, emotions, body, or surroundings
PTSD-related impairment	Persistent trauma symptoms interfering with functioning

However, experiencing psychological paralysis in the context of stalking does not automatically mean the person has PTSD. Diagnosis requires a broader assessment of symptoms, duration, impairment, and the nature of the traumatic exposure: Please, consult with a Psychiatrist.

One particularly important feature: loss of agency

Chronic stalking can be psychologically devastating partly because it attacks a person’s sense of autonomy and control.

The person may gradually move from:

“I can protect myself.”

to:

“I have to constantly monitor everything.”

to:

“Nothing I do stops this.”

“At the end, It may contribute to escalating anger, desperation, and sudden violent retaliation against the stalkers and or their loved ones.”

That progression can contribute to fear, helplessness, withdrawal, anger, retaliation , violance, and psychological paralysis.

If stalking is currently occurring, psychological support can be useful, but the person’s physical safety and practical safety planning should take priority over trying to psychologically “push through” the paralysis.

Shervan K Shahhian

Psychological Paralysis could be a state in which a person feels mentally or emotionally unable to think clearly:

Psychological Paralysis could be a state in which a person feels mentally or emotionally unable to think clearly, make decisions, initiate action, or move forward, even when they understand what needs to be done.

Common signs

Indecision: unable to choose between options
Overthinking: repeatedly analyzing without reaching a decision
Procrastination or inaction: wanting to act but feeling unable to start
Emotional freezing: feeling numb, overwhelmed, or shut down
Fear of making mistakes: avoiding action because the consequences feel threatening
Loss of motivation: knowing what to do but being unable to mobilize oneself
Feeling stuck: experiencing a sense that there is no way forward

What may cause it?

Psychological paralysis may occur in connection with:

Anxiety and excessive worry
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Chronic stress or overwhelm
Perfectionism
Fear of failure or rejection
Decision fatigue
Grief and major life transitions
Dissociation or a trauma related freeze response
Chronic Stalking

Psychological “freeze”

One useful way to understand it may be through the fight, flight, freeze response. When a situation feels overwhelming or threatening, the nervous system may shift toward immobility or shutdown rather than action: Please, consult with a Neurologist.

For example:

“I know I need to make this decision, but every time I try to deal with it, I become overwhelmed, shut down, and do nothing.”

That may be resemble psychological paralysis.

Psychological paralysis vs. ordinary procrastination

Procrastination often involves putting something off despite being capable of doing it.

Psychological paralysis may involve a deeper experience of feeling psychologically unable to initiate or choose, frequently because of anxiety, overwhelm, emotional conflict, or perceived threat.

Possibly, in some certain clinical language, it may be more useful to describe the specific underlying phenomenon such as avoidance, behavioral inhibition, executive dysfunction, dissociation, depressive psychomotor slowing, or a trauma related freeze response rather than treating “psychological paralysis” as a diagnosis.

Shervan K Shahhian

Prosocial Behavior refers to voluntary actions intended to help others:

Prosocial Behavior refers to voluntary actions intended to help, benefit, or support other people or society without expecting personal gain.

Examples of prosocial behavior

Helping a classmate with homework

Donating money or food to those in need

Volunteering in community service

Comforting a friend who is upset

Sharing resources or belongings

Cooperating with others to achieve a common goal

Characteristics

Intentional and voluntary

Aimed at benefiting others

Promotes positive social relationships

May or may not involve personal sacrifice

Factors that influence prosocial behavior

Empathy and compassion

Moral values

Social norms and cultural expectations

Parenting and upbringing

Positive role models

Situational factors (witnessing someone in need)

Importance

Prosocial behavior may strengthen relationships, it may promote cooperation, it may reduce conflict, improves mental well-being, and contributes to a more caring and harmonious society.

Simple definition: Prosocial behavior is any voluntary action intended to help, share with, or care for others, thereby benefiting individuals or society.

But, Please remember that not everyone will appreciate it.

Shervan K Shahhian

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by long-term patterns of instability in emotions,…

If you’re reading this because you’re concerned about yourself or someone else, it’s a good idea to speak with a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist and/or psychiatrist, for a proper evaluation. BPD is treatable, and many people improve significantly with evidence based therapies.

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a mental health condition characterized by long-term patterns of instability in emotions, relationships, self-image, and behavior. Symptoms may vary from person to person, and having some of these symptoms does not necessarily mean someone has BPD.

Common symptoms may include:

Intense fear of abandonment, whether real or perceived, which may lead to frantic efforts to avoid being left alone.

Unstable, intense relationships, often alternating between idealizing someone (“they’re perfect”) and then suddenly feeling disappointed or angry with them.

Unstable sense of self, such as frequently changing goals, values, career plans, or how you see yourself.

Impulsive behaviors that may be risky, such as reckless spending, unsafe sex, substance misuse, binge eating, or dangerous driving.

Rapid mood changes, with emotions that may shift dramatically over hours or days.

Chronic feelings of emptiness or feeling like something is missing.

Intense anger that may be difficult to control, including frequent outbursts or irritability.

Stress-related paranoia or dissociation, such as feeling detached from yourself, like you’re outside your body, or feeling that things around you aren’t real during periods of stress.

Self-harm or suicidal thoughts or behaviors may occur in some people with BPD. These symptoms require prompt professional attention.

To be diagnosed with BPD, a mental health professional may look for a consistent pattern of symptoms over time that significantly affects daily functioning. The symptoms also may need to be distinguished from other conditions, such as depression, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, or substance use disorders, which may have overlapping features?

Shervan K Shahhian