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| Get to know the term Emotional Numbness |
Emotional numbness is a condition when a person is unable to feel, identify, and express their own emotions. In fact, what causes a person to become emotionally numb and how to deal with it? Find out the explanation in this article.
Emotional numbness is described as feeling hopeless and empty, both physically and emotionally. People who are emotionally numb also usually experience anhedonia, feel isolated, like to be alone, are more sensitive, lonely, even feel they have no future or hope to continue living.
Sometimes, emotional numbness is a way of escaping from problems or the effects of extreme emotional swings that occur all too often. If left unchecked, over time, someone who is emotionally numb will get used to denying emotions and not expressing them, leading to broken relationships with other people.
Causes of Emotional Numbness
Emotional numbness is often associated with unmanaged stress. Prolonged stress can cause disruption of hormones that regulate mood and emotions. Physical factors, such as fatigue from a number of activities, can also increase the risk of developing emotional numbness.
In addition, emotional numbness is also often a sign or symptom of the following conditions:
- Traumatic events, such as accidents, the loss of a loved one, cyberbullying, or sexual harassment
- History of taking certain medications, such as antidepressants
- Alcohol addiction or drug abuse
- Mental illness, such as anxiety disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), or schizophrenia
How to Overcome Emotional Numbness
When experiencing emotional numbness, you have to be aware of and accept your situation first. If possible, identify what triggers the numbness as well. Next, you can do the following ways to solve it:
1. Seek support from those closest to you
Sometimes, we feel we can solve all the problems on our own. In fact, there are people around who can provide support and help us, you know. Stress and problems that are often kept to themselves sometimes trigger emotional numbness.
Therefore, try to tell and express whatever you feel and experience. You can confide in the closest person you trust the most, be it a partner or family. Sharing your story with someone you can trust can make you feel more relieved.
2. Focus on yourself and don't pay attention to what other people say
When experiencing emotional numbness, it's possible that people who don't know and understand your condition will criticize you. Well, for the time being, don't pay attention to this criticism, okay? Instead, focus on recovering and re-feeling various emotions, such as anger, irritation, joy, or sadness.
Remember that emotions are natural, as long as they are not excessive and can still be controlled. Cry if something really makes you sad. You can also be angry if someone has hurt you. Don't deny the emotion that comes, but accept it and manage it in the right way.
3. Do grounding exercises
Grounding exercises are a useful mindfulness technique to help you focus, reduce anxiety, and train your emotions. Some of the steps for doing grounding exercises are as follows:
- Do breathing exercises by taking deep breaths, feeling the air flowing, and exhaling slowly. Do it until you feel calmer.
- Once you've calmed down, touch an object around you, such as a book, pen, or bench, and then feel for its texture, temperature, or weight.
- Pay attention to the colors of the objects around you. Try to find and name five blue, green, or red objects that are near you.
- Hold an ice cube in your hand. Feel how it feels when the ice melts. Try to name the sensation.
- Play your favorite songs and really listen to them.
4. Apply a healthy lifestyle
Implementing a healthy lifestyle also needs to be done to help overcome the emotional numbness you experience. From now on, try to exercise regularly. You can start with yoga, dancing, or just walking. Exercise is known to help increase levels of the happiness hormone.
Don't forget to eat healthy food and get enough rest. In addition, you can try different stress management methods, such as journaling or taking up a hobby that once made you happy.
Emotional numbness can indeed be overcome. However, if after doing the various methods above, the emotional numbness you experience does not improve, you should consult a psychologist or psychiatrist.
To overcome this condition, usually a psychologist or psychiatrist will advise you to undergo psychotherapy in the form of cognitive behavioral therapy or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
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