EMDR Therapy in New Jersey: How to Remove the Hidden Mask and Find Your True Self

Linda Di Filippo
Oct 4
3 min read

Hiding your True Self: How EMDR Therapy in New Jersey Can Help — What Mask Do You Hide Behind?

Healing Through EMDR Therapy in New Jersey

Why We Hide Our "True" Selves

Have you ever felt like you’re performing—putting on a mask to be accepted, liked, or safe? You’re not alone. Many people, especially those with past trauma, find it difficult to show up as their authentic selves.

Let’s look at the hidden reasons behind this emotional armor:

Fear of Judgment:“What if they think I’m too much? Too emotional? Not good enough?”
Desire for Belonging:“If I fit in, I won’t be rejected.”
Past Trauma:“I’ve been hurt before—letting people in is too risky.”
Cultural & Societal Pressures:“I should be strong. I should be happy. I should be ‘perfect.’”

While these beliefs may have once helped protect us, over time they can trap us in patterns of self-denial, emotional numbness, and disconnection.

The Emotional Cost of Hiding

Wearing a mask every day comes at a high emotional price. When we’re not living authentically, we may experience:

Chronic anxiety and stress
Emotional numbness or emptiness
Difficulty forming deep, meaningful relationships
A lack of purpose, even when everything “seems fine”

This cycle of hiding often deepens our fear of rejection—even though what we truly crave is connection and acceptance.

How to Start Living Authentically and Connect to Your True Self

You don’t need to rip off the mask all at once. Healing happens in small, powerful steps.

Try These First Steps Toward Authenticity:

Notice When You’re Hiding Pay attention to when you shift to “perform” or avoid vulnerability.
Explore Your Fears Ask: “What’s the worst that could happen if I let someone see the real me?”
Practice Authenticity in Safe Spaces Identify people who support your growth and begin showing up more honestly with them.
Challenge Limiting Beliefs Use tools like CBT and mindfulness to rewrite internal scripts about worth and safety.
Seek Support from a Trauma Therapist in New Jersey Working with a professional who specializes in trauma and EMDR can help you uncover the why behind the mask—and gently remove it.

Why EMDR Therapy Works for Emotional Hiding & Self-Protection

If past trauma is keeping you from living authentically, EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) may help you heal and reconnect with your true self.

As a trauma therapists in New Jersey, we use EMDR to help clients:

Identify the root causes of emotional masking and self-denial
Process unresolved trauma that fuels fear of being seen
Rewire negative beliefs like “I’m not good enough” or “I must stay small to be safe”
Build emotional resilience and self-compassion
Gain the confidence to live life as their most honest, empowered self

Start EMDR Therapy in New Jersey – Reclaim Your True Self

Hiding can feel safe—but it keeps you disconnected from who you really are. If you’re ready to remove the emotional armor and reconnect with your true self,

EMDR therapy can support you every step of the way.

We specialize in helping individuals heal from trauma, rebuild trust in themselves, and live more freely and fully using EMDR therapy in New Jersey.

Take the First Step Today

You are not too much. You are not broken.You are worth knowing—and healing is possible.

Budd Therapy Group Offers EMDR therapy in New Jersey – in-person and online sessions available.

Ready to get started? Call 908.323.1003 or visit us at www.buddtherapy.com to schedule a free consultation and begin your journey toward authenticity and healing.