Emotional neglect is often difficult to name because it is about absence. The absence of warmth. The absence of comfort. The absence of delight. The absence of repair. The absence of attention. The absence of emotional responsiveness. You may have been fed, clothed, educated, and provided for. But emotionally, you may still have been alone.

You might delay replying. You might tell yourself you will answer later. You might feel tired before anything has even happened. You might begin thinking through everything that could go wrong. Then, perhaps, you criticise yourself. Why am I like this? Why can’t I just enjoy people? Why do ordinary friendships feel like so much work?

Starting a business and self-doubt often sit close together. This does not mean you are not capable. It may mean you are doing something that asks more of your nervous system than you expected.

Leadership is often spoken about in terms of skills. But leadership also asks something quieter. It asks us to know ourselves. Not perfectly. Not as a finished project. But honestly enough to notice how we affect others, how we respond under pressure, and what happens inside us when we are challenged.

Imposter syndrome in business can feel especially strong because business asks us to be seen. You may need to talk about your work. You have to be able to name what you offer. To set prices. To share ideas. To make decisions. To receive feedback.

Your concern is not a weakness. It's a very human experience to react to such injustices. It may be a sign that you are awake to the world around you, and that your body is trying to process more than it can easily hold day in and day out.