Numb And Find Partner Annoying

[NutritionNerd]

Actually that does sound like flight or fight response but wasn't exactly what I meant by my comment.

The ANS has a set of capabilities that it exercises on our behalf. It can shut off digestion, reroute your blood, choose which parts of your brain to activate or deactivate and so on. One of those capabilities is the ability to shut off emotions.

In PTSD you get exaggerated responses and sometimes they are inappropriate to the context. You can also get paranoid thinking which can be more subtle than it sounds.

What happens to me is a defensive mechanism - It's like your caring part shuts off.the caring for others out of concern you can't cope with the emotions. Not exactly numb because you are still caring about yourself. This is a space where you will be tempted to think you don't want to be in a relationship with someone or might find yourself wondering if you really love your children or husband. Not caring about anything or anybody including self is probably depression.

I've found it goes away as soon as I'm out of the defensive mindspace.

 

[Jacquie]

My own 'numb' is definitely like the OP. Its very much 'leave me alone'. And I've noticed it most prominent when I am absolutely overwhelmed with the number of things either going on or have been going on. Its not about not caring about someone or not. Its the constantly having to think, the not getting sleep, the weariness of having to consciously think about whats automatic for others and the 'noise' of life. Maybe going 'numb' is our way of being alone when they wont leave us alone? Cutting us off maybe? When it gets too much and we need to just 'rest'.

I'd call that a biological reaction for self preservation. Too much on too little sleep or rest DOES actually kill people if the body doesnt stop and rest. Just MHO

 

[friendlybadger]

Anna my husband doesn't get me either. He tries to understand but he's 'limited' in what he can do. Afterall, he hasn't been through the things we've all been through that caused our ptsd. He tries but as I say, he doesn't fully understand and has limited coping skills. So I come here. It's been incredibly helpful even in the short time I've been here.
If you ever need an ear, just pm me anytime :)