Identity Foreclosure

Early commitment to a rigid identity or belief system that limits exploration.

• Your identity was defined for you at a young age.

• You were discouraged or punished if you explored alternative identities.

• Leaving creates a sense of emptiness or disorientation for you.

Potential clinical implications (especially in high control settings)

• When identity was decided early, leaving can feel like losing the ground beneath one’s feet.

• Confusion does not indicate failure; it often signals delayed exploration.

• Healing includes permission to try, change, and remain undecided.