I had been stepped on so many times I consided changing my name to Mat. Then I discovered that what was so bad about looking back was that I remembered and felt the emotional impact of every incident. What I had to do was separate the emotional content from the memory itself- Instead of feeling foolish when I relive one of many times being pranked in the eighth grade, I remember that I felt foolish when I was pranked in the eighth grade. I don't relive it, I remember it, put a name to the emotions instead of experiencing them again. That creates the distance to allow me to learn from the past and experience new stuff.

Sometimes numbness is beneficial- NOLA is a good example. I weep for them and find ways to help, but a deep, emotional investment would overwhelm me; I label what I'd feel if I was in the middle of it, acknowledge that others are feeling it, and get on with my helping without being crippled emotionally.