Overview

• Psychologist Vianney Esparza says adults who dislike birthdays often experienced insufficient attention at childhood celebrations, leading to feelings of unworthiness and social discomfort.
• Trauma coach Brooke Camporeale attributes birthday rejection to emotional neglect and narcissistic parenting that undermines self-esteem from an early age.
• Additional factors such as fear of aging, social media comparisons and anxiety about being the center of attention can intensify aversion to birthday festivities.
• Avoiding birthdays may serve as an emotional defense mechanism against past affective deficiencies and social stress.
• Specialists advise breaking negative family patterns by creating affectionate, validating birthday experiences for children to foster resilience and positive memory-making.