The article is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.

From the portrayal of mental illness in pop culture, you might think that the only manifestations are angry outbursts, nonstop crying, or shaking from anxiety. While extreme emotions are occasionally signs of a mental health condition, feeling emotionally numb is another common symptom of conditions. Trauma or an abundance of stress can occasionally result in emotional numbness.

Emotional numbing, generally defined, is the reduced ability or inability to feel positive or negative emotions in situations where you would normally be expected to show such emotions. Some people do it consciously, while others may not even realize they’re stunting their emotions. The underlying motivation behind emotional numbing usually involves someone making a bargain that they’re better off not feeling things. To many people, this is preferable to constantly feeling stressed, sad, or angry.

If you think you are emotionally numb or are choosing to avoid your emotions, keep reading for more context on this mental health condition and ways to potentially address it. 

Mental Health Conditions That May Correlate With Emotional Numbness

Feeling negative emotions so strongly or continually that you feel the need to ignore all emotions is strongly correlated with several mental illnesses, such as:

• Depression;
• Anxiety;
• Complex grief;
• Borderline personality disorder;
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and
• Schizophrenia

The underlying mechanism for emotional numbing differs among mental health conditions. For instance, someone with depression who is emotionally numb usually gets that way by not getting enjoyment from activities they used to enjoy. In such cases, the depressed person often wants to feel those emotions again.

Conversely, though, someone with PTSD might be scared of feeling emotions and actively avoid triggers. They might want to avoid discussing the source of their stress and related events. Consider reading up on BetterHelp and its online therapy options if you’re interested in confronting emotional numbness. 

Certain Medications May Cause Emotional Numbness

Coincidentally, medicines commonly used to treat mental health conditions correlated with emotional numbness can sometimes be the cause of emotional numbness. The usual culprit is SSRIs, a type of antidepressant that can sometimes be prescribed for other mental health conditions. SNRIs, which also affect levels of serotonin, can cause emotional numbness. 

Substance Use Disorders Can Correlate With Emotional Numbness

Substance use disorders can also cause emotional numbness. Continually using substances can alter certain parts of the brain so that you don’t feel positive emotions without upping the amount you use. When you aren’t using the substance, you can feel emotionless and unable to experience pleasure. It’s worth noting that more than a third of people with a substance use disorder also have at least one mental illness.

How To Get Care For Emotional Numbness

Emotional numbness might seem preferable to experiencing unpleasant emotions, but it can dramatically reduce your ability to feel pleasure and enjoyment over time. It can be scary to visit emotional places that make you upset, but finding the underlying reason for your emotional numbness can give you greater control over your life.

Talk To A Therapist

A licensed therapist can give you crucial insights about your emotional numbness. They might help you uncover the source of your numbness and provide you with emotional management strategies so you don’t live in fear of experiencing emotions. Remember that a therapist’s office (or virtual session) is supposed to be a safe place to deal with complex and challenging emotions.

Do Things You Enjoy

One of the most common symptoms of depression is not enjoying things you used to enjoy. If your old hobbies no longer fulfill you, you might not see the point in continuing to do them. However, this can create a vicious cycle. People often need a jolt to their routine to combat emotional numbness, and picking back up those activities could be key.

Thank you for reading.

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