Breaking Through the Fog: How to Overcome Emotional Numbness
Breaking Through the Fog: How to Overcome Emotional Numbness
Written by Lily Thrope
Emotional numbness can be described as feeling desensitized or disconnected from your emotions, your environment or surroundings. In life, there are different events that impact our emotions. Think about birthdays, holidays, large life events, relationship milestones, and losses. When a person experiences emotional numbness, they aren’t reacting to these moments and may well be protecting themselves from feeling them. Emotional numbness can be a defense mechanism, a place we go within our nervous systems to protect us from feeling all these emotions.
What is the origin of emotional numbness?
Emotional numbness can occur in the event of a trauma, a powerful memory or a profound loss, and is often almost immediately engaged by our nervous system as a protective device, in order to avoid pain or being hurt by others. When we feel physical or emotional pain, a common reaction is to disconnect, detach, or ‘numb out’ feelings about the situation. Emotional numbness is a feeling, not a mental condition, meaning it can be a symptom of PTSD, depression, or another mental health condition.
What does emotional numbness feel like?
Emotions feel suppressed, dampened or blunted
Lacking reaction to big life events
Feeling disconnected from your body
Unable to connect with others
Generally apathetic towards life
Withdrawal and preferring isolation
Brain fog
While emotional numbness is a natural response to certain stressors, it can be debilitating if it lasts long enough to affect our relationships and overall well-being, or if it blocks other feelings, such as joy or happiness. If you're feeling this way, know that you're not alone, and there are practical steps you can take to break through the fog and reconnect with yourself and others. Here are a few ways to overcome emotional numbness:
Practice mindfulness and self-compassion by meditating and employing breath exercises to help ground you
Engage in activities you enjoy
Seek out connection with loved ones
Connect with nature
Take time to explore what factor(s) may be contributing to your emotional numbness.
Allow yourself to have space and quiet time in order to re-group, focus and dispel the disconnection or disassociation you may be feeling.
Talk therapy can be a very effective method of overcoming emotional numbness. A mental health professional can help get to the root of the emotional numbness and explore those feelings. Right now at Thrope Therapy we offer both in-person and virtual sessions. Feel free to reach out to us with any questions or inquiries at hello@thropetherapy.com.
