Definition: The slow corrosion of self-respect from constantly saying “yes” when you mean “no.” Happens when you prioritize others’ comfort over your own limits—agreeing to extra work, suppressing grievances, or absorbing emotional labor—until your personal edges erode like neglected metal.
You don’t notice the damage until resentment bubbles up as passive aggression or burnout. By then, relationships feel transactional, and you’re left sandblasted by emotional exhaustion. A silent killer of authenticity.
Example:
Despite being overwhelmed, she agreed to take on her colleague’s project, swallowing her stress until snapping at a minor request days later.
He attended every draining family gathering to avoid conflict, bottling up his need for solitude until he felt numb and utterly depleted.