Member-only story

When Idealization is a Hidden Trauma

How idolatry can become an insidious trap of worth and redemption

Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW
Invisible Illness
Published in
7 min readJan 18, 2025

--

“Every form of addiction is bad, no matter whether the narcotic be alcohol, morphine or idealism.” ― Carl Gustav Jung

People idealize others for a variety of psychological, emotional, and social reasons. It’s a natural tendency tied to our need for connection, meaning, and guidance in life. In fact, children typically idealize their parents during early childhood. It is a natural part of cognitive and emotional development to see one’s parents as all-knowing, powerful, and capable of providing complete security.

As celebrity worship and the cult of personality reveal, idealizing luminaries, activists, religious figures, or politicians can offer a sense of belonging to a larger group or identity. Aligning with a certain community or belief system and glorifying someone who represents those values, makes people feel part of something greater than themselves.

Likewise, idealizing others, whether it’s a partner, a mentor, a public figure, or even a friend, can provide a sense of emotional security. When someone is seen as infallible, it creates a sense of stability because there’s a belief that they can provide solutions, guidance, or protection from life’s uncertainties. This is particularly evident…

--

--

Invisible Illness
Invisible Illness

Published in Invisible Illness

Medium’s biggest mental health publication

Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW
Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW

Written by Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW

Complex trauma clinician and writer. Survivor turned thriver, with a love for world travel, the arts and nature. I think outside the box. Sheritherapist.com

Responses (13)