Emotion · Overwhelm family
Numbness
noun
A shutting-off of feeling — flat, blank or disconnected — often after too much pain or stress.
How it shows up in the body
Feeling far away, foggy, tired, “not really here,” not reacting to things that used to matter.
What it is telling you
Your system has hit the brakes to protect you. Numbness is often a sign of feelings too big to feel all at once, not a lack of feelings.
The urge — and the choice
To chase intensity just to feel something, or to stay checked out. The choice is to come back slowly through the body.
One thing to try
Hold something cold, notice your feet on the floor, and name one sensation. Feeling returns in small doses.
Practice it: Body scan.
Read more: Trauma and emotional literacy
