Emotional Numbness: Why Am I Emotionally Numb? Causes, Signs & How to Overcome -

Sometimes we are in that state of life where nothing offends us or affects us, and nothing excites us. Even if we feel the urge to cry, we cannot cry or express our emotions openly.

We nothing feel anyone’s pain or not can we understand our own feelings.

I remember the day when I was counted among the toppers of my class. But I did not feel any happiness or excitement about my position. I was often surprised that the person with average marks is so satisfied, and even after getting the position, I do not feel any feelings; I felt a kind of emptiness.

“Am I heartless or stone-hearted?”

This is what we start thinking about ourselves. What has happened to us that we have become so insensitive and emotionally numb?

In this blog, Savvy Psych will help you understand and explain why we feel emotional numbness. What causes it and why? And how can we overcome it from within ourselves?

Table of Contents

What is emotional numbness?

Emotional numbness is a condition where a person feels nothing. Nothing makes them happy or sad anymore. A person with emotional numbness avoids socializing. They simply prefer to spend more time alone.

Where does this emotional numbness come from?

Emotionally numb people get into this state due to many reasons and experiences. If a person has experienced some trauma very closely in his past and he has never been healed from that trauma, then he remains emotionally suppressed in his present as well and is never able to express his emotions and feelings openly. Sometimes, even rejection makes a person feel emotionally numb. If a person is constantly under stress, then he also experiences emotional numbness.

What psychology says about emotional numbness?

According to Psychology, when a person feels emotionally numb, they unconsciously protect themselves through a defense mechanism in their mind. That is, when they realize that something is hurting them or causing them pain, they unconsciously begin to suppress their emotions.

Example:

For example, if a person has hurt you, you tell yourself that you don’t care, but you know that you have felt bad, but at that time, you should not feel your pain, make ‘I don’t care’ your defence mechanism.

Defence mechanism:

Basically, whenever humans feel threatened or troubled, they use a defence mechanism as a protection or shield. When they feel that something has hurt them, they will block or avoid it before it even comes to their side. Sometimes, in a defence mechanism, humans try to reduce anxiety by re framing it and fitting it into their imagination.

My Personal experience:

All my friends were busy taking snaps and pictures, and there was an environment of happiness everywhere. This was the day I was to be rewarded for my four years of hard work. Today was our convocation ceremony. Everyone was congratulating me. I was putting on a fake smile, but it was there for everyone. But where was that happiness of mine? I was feeling nothing. Everyone was happy, but I was trying to be happy.

The only thought that was going on in my mind was that the degree which I have earned by working hard day and night, the sacrifice of my parents which did not make them lose their jobs, but if I am not able to get a good job with this degree, if my career does not go well and I am not successful like everyone else, then what?

This thought was just not allowing me to feel anything, neither was I feeling the happiness of my graduation, nor was I feeling the happiness of anyone else. Some of your thoughts may not be felt by anyone, but they make you emotionally numb inside. Everyone used to say that you had become very strong. But only I knew how hopeless and weak I was feeling inside. Your silence and quiet talk show your strength to people, but what you are feeling from inside, only you can know at that time.

Signs that show you are emotionally numb:

Always feels emptiness inside.
Feeling lonely.
Detachment from people or your loved ones.
Nothing excited you nor saddened you.
You don’t like to interact with people.
When things hurt you, you feel nothing·
You don’t feel good, but can’t express it.
Struggle to express your emotions.
Getting irritated easily.
When someone says, “How are you?” You said I am fine, but how to express your true feelings inside you don’t know

Reasons that you feel emotionally numb:

Stress:

If you have experienced a lot of stressful situations for a long time, you become adaptive and that you become emotionally numb and don’t feel anything. No matter what the situation is, you feel nothing.
Long-term stress has been linked to emotional numbness and mental fatigue, as supported by studies from the National Institute of Mental Health.

Rejection:

When someone has to face constant rejection, if there is no acceptance in his life, then he has become emotionally numb due to the constant experience of rejection, and no one can bring him pure feelings in the relationship.

Mentally tired:

When a person is under pressure of mental fatigue for a long time, it becomes very difficult for them to feel any emotions.

Overload:

Managing too many responsibilities and household chores like family, relationships, studies, and career all at once can make a person feel overburdened and thus numb.

Hiding emotions:

Keeping your emotions and feelings suppressed in your heart makes you mentally tired. If a person hides their emotions for a long time, then once they reach the point, they don’t feel any emotions; they have become emotionally numb.

Disappointment:

Emotional numbness can also be felt by a person due to constant disappointment.

How does emotional numbness affect your life?

Being emotionally numb not only affects your personal life but also your daily life activities.

Zero motivation:

When you are emotionally numb, your heart does not want anything. Your confidence in achieving your life goals, career, and achievements has gone. You have zero motivation to do something in your life.

Missed opportunities:

Emotional numbness can make the opportunities you encounter seem meaningless and wasteful. This can lead to you not being able to take advantage of any opportunity.

Misunderstandings in relationships:

Your care and love for your family are genuine, but you don’t know how to show them, and then misunderstandings arise and create distance.

Isolation:

You start spending more time alone because of this emotional numbness, and you start to feel very different from others.

Feels hopeless:

When nothing gives you happiness or excitement, and you don’t feel your pain, then this thing is very strange.

Decision-making problems:

When a person is emotionally numb, they face a lot of problems in making any decision in life, be it a small decision or a big decision.

Start overthinking:

You should start worrying about small things. This habit makes you mentally tired.

Difficulty in finding your life purpose:

You find it difficult to know what the purpose of your life is. Your life is simply running on autopilot; whatever happens, you just go with the flow in this life.

How to end this emotional numbness in your life?

You can remove emotional numbness from within yourself in a good and healthy way.

Understand your emotions:

You should fully understand your emotions. If at some moment you are not feeling anything, then it is not a matter; do not think so much about it. If you are not feeling anything at that moment, then it is okay, leave it. But if you keep thinking about it constantly, then the rest of your jolly, funny, or any other kind of moments may make you feel emotionless.

Start Journaling:

Sometimes, we can’t easily express what we’re feeling. If you can’t figure out how to express an emotion, write it down. This will lighten your heart and keep your emotions from becoming suppressed.

Move your body:

You should do 15 to 30 minutes of exercise or some warm-up daily, which will also improve your mental health a lot.

Start socializing more:

Try joining group meetings, friend circles, and family gatherings. This has made you feel good and boosted your confidence.

Remove negative people in your life:

Sometimes the comments of negative people also make us emotionally numb and make us hypocritical in our own eyes.

Stop hiding your feelings:

Whatever you’re feeling, share it with a trusted person. Holding back your emotions can leave you mentally sad and emotionally numb.

Seek professional help:

If you’ve been experiencing this problem for a while and haven’t seen any changes, and the pain is becoming more severe and painful, you need professional help. Please consult a professional psychologist.

Conclusion:

Becoming emotionally numb, not feeling any emotion, is a very painful experience. But it does not mean that your whole life depends on it. Sometimes a person feels a lot due to the constraints and tensions of life. This is natural, so do not think of it as anything less. When you feel that you are not able to come out of this problem, then take a strong step or choose some professional help.

Reminder:

The mental health explanations provided in this article are based solely on personal experience and advice. If you feel a significant improvement, you can share it with your friends who are also experiencing mental health issues. However, if you have a serious mental health issue, please seek out a professional. Thank you so much.