How to Overcome Emotional Numbness: A Guide to Recovery

Emotional numbness is a feeling where you seem cut off from your emotions and the world around you. You may feel like you’re watching life go by without really being a part of it. This can leave you feeling confused and alone. But it’s important to know that this is a real issue, and there are ways to feel better.

In this article, we will explain what emotional numbness is, what causes it, its symptoms, and what can be done to help you or someone else who is going through it.

What Is Emotional Numbness?

Emotional numbness is when you feel cut off from your emotions. It’s like your feelings have been turned off, making it hard to connect with what you think or feel. People who go through this might find it hard to relate to others or even themselves.

This can happen because of many things, like going through a lot of stress, trauma, or emotional tiredness. While it might seem like a way to protect yourself from difficult feelings, it can make you feel alone and cut off from the people and activities that once made you happy.

Those experiencing frozen feelings of numbness often find it hard to express their feelings or connect with others. After big emotional events like grief or trauma, it’s common to feel numb for a while as your mind tries to cope with the pain.

Emotional Numbness Causes

There are several reasons why a frozen feeling happens. Understanding where it comes from is important to finding the right help. Here are some common causes:

1) Trauma

Experiencing a serious event like losing a loved one, an accident, or any form of abuse can cause you emotionally numb. This is the brain’s way of protecting itself from the pain by shutting down feelings.

2) Depression

Emotional numbness is common in people who suffer from depression. It can make you feel like you’re not able to enjoy anything, and even things that used to make you happy feel empty.

3) Anxiety and PTSD

People with anxiety or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may shut down emotionally as a way to avoid feelings that seem too hard to deal with.

4) Mental Health Conditions

Mental health problems like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), or bipolar disorder can cause emotional numbness. In these cases, feelings may come and go, making it hard to stay steady.

5) Medications

Some medications, like antidepressants (for example, sertraline, Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Prozac, Zoloft, and others), may cause emotional numbness as a side effect. While these medications are useful for treating depression and anxiety, they can also reduce how deeply you feel emotions.

6) Stress

Emotional numbness from stress happens when life feels too hard for too long. When you’ve been stressed out for a long time, your mind and body might decide to turn off your feelings as a way to cope.

7) Substance Use

Substances like caffeine, alcohol, and certain drugs can add to feelings of emotional numbness, especially when used too much or to deal with stress.

8) Grief

For people who have lost a loved one, emotional numbness after grief is common. The loss can be too much to handle all at once, so your mind turns off feelings as a way to deal with it.

Emotional Numbness Symptoms

It’s important to notice when you or someone you know is feeling emotionally numb. Some common signs include:

• Feeling cut off from yourself or the world around you.
• No longer enjoying activities that used to make you happy.
• Having trouble showing emotions like joy, sadness, or anger.
• Not caring about important events in your life.
• Feeling like you’re watching life from the outside.

These signs might come on slowly, so it can be hard to notice at first. Many people don’t realize how emotionally numb they are until it starts affecting their daily lives. You can take an emotional numbness test or talk to a therapist to see if you’re feeling this way.

Emotional Numbness in Relationships

Emotional numbness in relationships can create distance between partners. If one person feels emotionally numb, it may lead to a lack of connection, making both partners feel alone. Over time, this can create more problems in the relationship.

If you’re dealing with this, it’s important to talk openly with your partner and, if needed, seek help together. A therapist can help both partners understand what’s going on and find ways to reconnect.

Emotional Numbness Treatment

There are different ways to treat numbness condition, depending on what’s causing it. Here are some common treatments that can help:

1. Therapy

Talking with a therapist can be a very effective way to treat numbness. If the numbness is linked to trauma or anxiety, a therapist can guide you in slowly reconnecting with your feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is often used to help change negative thoughts and help you get in touch with your emotions.

2. Medication Adjustments

If your numbness is caused by a medication, like antidepressants, talk to your doctor. They might adjust your dose or switch you to a different medication that doesn’t numb your emotions.

3. Mindfulness Practices

Mindfulness exercises, such as meditation, can help you stay present and start feeling your emotions again. These practices allow you to focus on the moment and reconnect with yourself.

4. Exercise

Regular physical activity can help you reconnect with your body and release tension. Exercise is a great way to reduce stress and get in touch with your feelings.

5. Support Networks

Talking with friends, family, or a trusted person can also be a big help. When you’re open with someone about your feelings, it can reduce the sense of being alone.

How to Deal with Emotional Numbness through Reiki

Reiki is a gentle, hands-on healing practice that works with your body’s energy. It can help ease frozen feelings by clearing blocked energy and restoring balance. When you’re emotionally numb, it feels like you’re disconnected from your feelings and the world around you. Reiki helps open up these emotional blockages, allowing you to feel more connected to your emotions and surroundings again.

1. How Reiki Helps Emotional Numbness

Reiki works by targeting the body’s energy centers, known as chakras. Emotional numbness can often occur when energy gets stuck in these areas, particularly in the heart and solar plexus chakras. When these chakras are blocked, it can make you feel emotionally distant or shut off.

A Reiki practitioner gently places their hands on or near your body to transfer healing energy. This energy helps remove blockages, allowing emotions to flow freely again. You may feel a sense of calm, warmth, or even lightness during the session. Over time, Reiki can help you reconnect with your feelings and regain emotional balance.

2. What to Expect During a Reiki Session

A Reiki session is very relaxing. You will usually lie down while the practitioner places their hands on or just above your body. The session typically lasts about 30 to 60 minutes. You don’t need to do anything during the session; simply relax and allow the energy to flow.

Some people feel immediate emotional shifts after just one session, while others may need a few more sessions to notice a change. Everyone’s experience is different, but Reiki provides a safe, non-invasive way to address emotional numbness.

3. Reiki as Part of Emotional Healing

While Reiki can be very helpful, it’s often best used alongside other treatments like therapy or counseling. Emotional numbness can have many causes, including trauma, stress, or even certain medications. By combining Reiki with these therapies, you can address both the emotional and energy aspects of numbness, leading to a more complete healing process.

Reiki offers a gentle way to start feeling again, and it can be an important step toward emotional healing. If you’re feeling emotionally numb, it might be worth exploring Reiki as a part of your recovery journey. Reiki helps bring emotional balance back into your life.

Read more: What is Reiki?

How to Fix Emotional Numbness

It takes time and effort to heal from a numb condition. If you’re wondering how to fix emotional numbness, here are a few things to try:

• Start therapy or counseling.
• Practice mindfulness or meditation.
• Talk to your doctor if your medications are affecting you.
• Get regular physical activity.
• Open up to people you trust.

Each small step helps. Don’t expect to feel better overnight, but with patience, you’ll start to reconnect with your feelings.

How Long Does Emotional Numbness Last?

The length of time emotional numbness lasts depends on what’s causing it. For example, emotional numbness after trauma or grief can last for a few weeks or months. On the other hand, emotional numbness from chronic conditions or medication may last longer. However, it’s important to ask, “Is emotional numbness permanent?” In most cases, it’s not. With proper support and treatment, it can be managed and even overcome.

Conclusion

Emotionally numb can make you feel cut off from your emotions, but it doesn’t have to last forever. Whether it’s caused by stress, trauma, or medication, there are several ways to heal. Reiki, for example, can help restore emotional balance by working with your body’s energy, offering a gentle and supportive way to ease emotional blocks. With treatments like therapy, physical activities, and mindfulness, you can reconnect with your feelings and live a more joyful and meaningful life. Remember, it’s never too late to start feeling again.

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