walls up
Closes off emotionally
Walls up describes an emotional state of guardedness or defensiveness, where someone has erected psychological barriers against intimacy or vulnerability.
The phrase comes from the metaphor of building walls for protection: She's got her walls up after the divorce.
To have one's walls up is to be unwilling to let others in emotionally.
- fenceBoundary structure between properties
- barricadeObstacle blocking a path
- mistrustfulLacking faith in others
- blockSolid mass, or impede
- guardedWary and restrained
estrangement · shell · reserved · cautious · defensive · detachment · emotional distance · reclusive · self-protection · safe space · withdrawn · closed off · isolation · aloof · wary · shut out · fortification · stonewalling
- defense mechanismsdenial, projection, repression, suppression, displacement
- emotional maskingmasking, suppression, repression, hiding, bottling up
walls upopening up
Becoming less guarded
vulnerable · open · transparent · heart on sleeve · confiding
walls upwelcoming
Receiving others warmly
warm · approachable · receptive · open-hearted · inviting
walls updefenseless
Without means to resist
undefended · exposed · unprotected · unarmored · laid bare
wall, walls, walled, walling, wallboard, wallpaper, wallpapered, wallpapering, upping