Do you have days when you feel like you don’t feel anything at all? Maybe you don’t care for your job, perhaps you don’t enjoy hobbies, or you might not feel invested in your relationships with friends and family. Emotional numbness is an isolating thing to experience, but what is it called when you feel emotionally numb?
Although you might think you’re the only one who feels this way, many people report feeling emotionally numb. They struggle to find meaning in their daily life and can’t seem to get out of autopilot. Day-to-day life feels trivial and meaningless, and the world loses its wonder and excitement.
So, what is it called when you feel emotionally numb? Everyone experiences some emotional numbness from time to time. However, your emotional disconnect is pervasive and lasting, it could likely be a symptom of a deeper mental health condition. Thankfully, whether your feelings are momentary or lasting, emotional numbness won’t last forever.
How can you overcome feeling emotionally numb and get back to living a fulfilling life?
Why do I feel emotionally numb?
There is no single name or descriptor for the cause of emotional numbness. You can find yourself feeling disconnected from the world for various reasons. Sometimes a traumatic event could be the cause. Other times a significant life change could be the culprit. Numbing your emotions can result from high-stress situations where you need to get a job done or as a coping mechanism to prevent further overwhelming emotions from entering your psyche.
You may also experience emotional numbness as part of a greater mental health problem. Conditions like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder can make you feel emotionally numb. Medications like antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can also cause you to feel emotionally numb.
How can you overcome feelings of emotional numbness?
Feeling emotionally numb may be a pervasive or ongoing problem, but it doesn’t have to be something you live with forever. You can do a few things you can to work through your feelings of numbness.
Get moving
Getting your body moving might be the last thing you want to do when you feel emotionally numb. Keep it simple, though; go for a walk, find a local hike, participate in a yoga class, or go for a bike ride. Movement is crucial for improving your mood, especially when you don’t want to do it. Once you get moving, you’ll realize how much difference movement makes.
Talk with a loved one
Avoiding isolation is an important part of overcoming emotional numbness. Find a loved one you can talk to about your feelings. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or even a colleague, vocalizing your feelings can keep you from feeling so alone. You might even find that they feel the same as you or that they’ve dealt with similar feelings in the past.
Ask for help
Asking for help can feel impossible when you’re trapped in a period of emotional numbness. However, it’s also a primary way to receive the care you need. Mental health treatment programs like those at Pasadena Villa are crucial for helping you identify the cause of your feelings and find a lasting solution to them. To learn more about finding help at Pasadena Villa, call us at 407-215-2519 today.
