Depends. I dated a guy who constantly invalidated me to the point where I felt like I knew myself no more. I didn't know who i was, what i was.. etc... I didn't know he was doing this to me until i got to a therapist who told me all the things I thought I was PRIOR to meeting him... such as logical, intelligent.. etc.. He used to make me doubt my own reasoning.

A very dangerous thing especially when you trust the wrong person.

Anyhoo, after seeing the therapist briefly for 3 months.. I now give validation to myself and when others constantly invalidate me ( one person in particular), it actually makes me angry and i use that anger as fuel to move forward towards my goals. Also, I start distancing from them because I feel 1. they're either super dumb because they lack human compassion... 2. They don't understand me and no matter How much i might try to make them understand me, they won't because they don't have that sort of mindset. Which takes me back to reason number 1. they're dumb.

Also, I left the bf. So that's the difference. if its someone close to you, and depending on how much they invalidate you, it really can damage your self esteem in the long run and hurt you, you'll constantly feel misunderstood or not understood at all. Not you you, but that's how I had felt when it happened.

if its an aquantaince i just brush it off. if its a close friend it hurts me, so i confront them, if they don't get it. move on... you can still be friends but you gotta distance yourself...

Let me know what you think

and I hope that helps. Strictly my experience, works for me when i validate myself everyday, try it.. it takes a while. Also, another thing helps when you read biographies of big people who everyone thought were wrong/crazy and yet they became the kings/queens of the world by just being themselves...