Inability To Feel Emotions

[Frankie111]

How does this feel to you? How long have you had emotional numbness? Has anyone had this numbness and then got their emotions back again?

 

[Alittlelost]

To me it's a feeling of frustration. Frustration because I feel nothing about the events. It's actually frustrating trying to explain. I've used many negative coping mechanisms in the past to prevent remembering certain experiences which i believe has left me disconnected from my feelings, so I unable to put a time frame on the numbness.

I asked this question to my therapist: if I feel nothing about the experiences then why is it a problem? Because your experiencing it in different ways. eg nightmares, flashbacks, negative coping mechanisms. But why is that happening if I don't feel anything? Sorry that's off the subject a little.

 

[Anna]

How does this feel to you? How long have you had emotional numbness? Has anyone had this numbness and then got their emotions back again?

Yes. I had emotional numbness for over 2 months. Then suddenly listening to a song suddenly triggered this flood of emotions. It was overwhelming. I cried for about 20 mins and felt very sad. Then afterwards the numbing came back. Was bizarre.

 

[Martin Taylor]

Yes, I have had it on and off. Sometimes stronger than others. It's something I'm working on right now, as a matter of fact. Used to be worse, but getting better. There were times I liked pain because it meant I was feeling something, rather than not.

 

[Martin Taylor]

Speaking of songs, I've often felt like the singer of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb".

 

[VDWngr1355]

I have felt numb for the past four months. I think I am getting closer to feeling again, but it is frustrating not to be able to cry or enjoy feel joy.

 

[Anna]

Speaking of songs, I've often felt like the singer of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb".

Also the U2 song "Numb" as well.

 

[Meadowsweet]

I was numb for about 4 years. I didn't feel or have any emotional reactions like fear, tears, anger. But I thought feelings. By that, I mean that I knew how I ought to feel and believed that to be feeling. Smoking a lot and drinking helped keep that numbness.

My emotions came back gradually after I became pregnant. But there are many factors as to why they came back - a) I stopped drinking and cut down smoking. b) I was by myself for longer periods of time c) I did a night course in aromatherapy where people talked openly about how scents made them feel. d) an emotional response to feeling protective over my children.

I have short periods of numbness now, but they are more like mental exhaustion following a period of intense stress or anxiety. It feels like a break from constantly looking out for dangers because I give up caring about living or dying. But as soon as Ive got energy back, I start panicking that Ive not cared.