[Trace14]

Does anyone feel like they have this? Does it only apply to trauma or all things?

[TrailRunner14]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Does anyone feel like they have this? Does it only apply to trauma or all things?

I'm not sure how it applies. I do know that when I feel overwhelmed the vacuum feeling comes and the numbness sets in. I'm hijacked and eventually figure it out, after the fact. It's sneaky and takes me away before I realize it or comprehend it.

[Raindropvampire]

I feel anger and I feel sad that's my range but when triggered by something I go numb.

[reb569]

I'm emotionally numb now. Have been for days. I don't know if it's because I've been sick and am still not fully recovered, or if it's because I've lost hope of life ever being anything close to enjoyable again.

[OliverB]

When I dissociate it happens... now I need it and force it with pregabalin, i think it is because we can't hold so much emotions at once..-.

[winter4me]

Others have pointed it out to me at times...when younger
....it just happens, it took a long time for me to even recognize the experience as a numbing...don't know what I thought...autopilot...

[SoupDragon]

Yes, I have that. Mostly feel nothing, unless triggered, then I go from 0 to 100 in terms of feelings.

[kaleidoscopeheart]

Yup. There are times I seriously wonder if I even have feelings. :P

[winter4me]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

Yes, I have that. Mostly feel nothing, unless triggered, then I go from 0 to 100 in terms of feelings.

Yes. It is that 0-100 that is shattering.
Took me many years to be able to "see"/"feel" it coming on.

After roaring to 100, I would wonder who that person was, what she was so upset about, and couldn't imagine how to fix the problem since I couldn't imagine it happening again even though I "knew" it did, in certain situations...but even to identify those.....

& I know it is still in there....

[RockabillyMama80]

I've recently learned how to be numb. I'm usually more emotional. I cry much less these days, though. My husband who also has it, has always numbed and withdrawn.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by RockabillyMama80

I've recently learned how to be numb. I'm usually more emotional. I cry much less these days, though. My husband who also has it, has always numbed and withdrawn.

Hello and welcome to the PC forums. Is it a good thing to be emotionally numb for you?

[RockabillyMama80]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Hello and welcome to the PC forums. Is it a good thing to be emotionally numb for you?

It's almost a relief because I'm very hypersensitive.

[SoupDragon]

I had an issue at my T's once. I was saying something, in response to what I said, my T said they felt themselves welling up and wanting to cry. I felt nothing and was shocked that T felt that. Mostly I prefer the numbness.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

I had an issue at my T's once. I was saying something, in response to what I said, my T said they felt themselves welling up and wanting to cry. I felt nothing and was shocked that T felt that. Mostly I prefer the numbness.

Well T's are human too, and who knows, that may have triggered the T. I've found that a lot of T's go into that field because they had issues before that required the guidance of a T. So it could be that some things discussed with them is triggering for them. No fault of their own, sometimes we can't control our emotions, ya know?
I understand preferring numbness but I really think as long as we do that we will never get out from under the power of that emotion.

[SoupDragon]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Well T's are human too, and who knows, that may have triggered the T. I've found that a lot of T's go into that field because they had issues before that required the guidance of a T. So it could be that some things discussed with them is triggering for them. No fault of their own, sometimes we can't control our emotions, ya know?
I understand preferring numbness but I really think as long as we do that we will never get out from under the power of that emotion.

Yes I agree Trace. I do think the solution is experiencing those feelings. But it is fairly terrifying for me to feel those things. I remember a couple of years ago, finding it so difficult to function because of my feelings and a brain that didn't feel like my own, was always dissociating. So now life feels easier, not feeling.

But my T has said unless we deal with those things, they will lay dormant, then raise their head again and trip me up. I'm just not sure I know how to feel. I don't know if I am numb, or chilled out, to the extent that issues don't effect me anymore.

Experiences I have had, were traumatic for me and I felt a lot at those times, too much. Can it be the case that when you have experienced those things, that everyday life things seem trivial in comparisson? Like the capacity to tolerate everyday events increases as maybe in the grand scheme of things, they don't feel important.

Sorry if this has turned into a ramble, not sure if I know what I mean.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

Yes I agree Trace. I do think the solution is experiencing those feelings. But it is fairly terrifying for me to feel those things. I remember a couple of years ago, finding it so difficult to function because of my feelings and a brain that didn't feel like my own, was always dissociating. So now life feels easier, not feeling.

But my T has said unless we deal with those things, they will lay dormant, then raise their head again and trip me up. I'm just not sure I know how to feel. I don't know if I am numb, or chilled out, to the extent that issues don't effect me anymore.

Experiences I have had, were traumatic for me and I felt a lot at those times, too much. Can it be the case that when you have experienced those things, that everyday life things seem trivial in comparisson? Like the capacity to tolerate everyday events increases as maybe in the grand scheme of things, they don't feel important.

Sorry if this has turned into a ramble, not sure if I know what I mean.

Those are some good questions, and I don't have an answer, sorry. But if we look at how we have handled things so far. For me, numbing has not helped, so why not try something different? Ya know. Supposedly being with a T is a safe place to do that. So are you saying that maybe we are not numbing, but just doing a comparison to past issues to current, and that they are just not as devastating as the past so we don't react to them as being important? I could see that as happening.

[SoupDragon]

Originally Posted by Trace14

Those are some good questions, and I don't have an answer, sorry. But if we look at how we have handled things so far. For me, numbing has not helped, so why not try something different? Ya know. Supposedly being with a T is a safe place to do that. So are you saying that maybe we are not numbing, but just doing a comparison to past issues to current, and that they are just not as devastating as the past so we don't react to them as being important? I could see that as happening.

It is tricky. My T describes numbing as being empty and then there is a risk of anything falling into that emptiness and therefore the risk of overwhelm.

And yes I do wonder if I have learned not to sweat the small stuff, with the small stuff being relevant to what we may have experienced in the past. Like building an emotional "muscle", that only feels strained when challenged by something heavy.

A contrast for me to a couple of years ago, when even going to the supermarket was overwhelming for me. Maybe I have built "muscle" and what I feel is being able to cope with everyday stuff, rather than being numb. Maybe a conversation to have with my T.

Hope everyone is doing OK today.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

It is tricky. My T describes numbing as being empty and then there is a risk of anything falling into that emptiness and therefore the risk of overwhelm.

And yes I do wonder if I have learned not to sweat the small stuff, with the small stuff being relevant to what we may have experienced in the past. Like building an emotional "muscle", that only feels strained when challenged by something heavy.

A contrast for me to a couple of years ago, when even going to the supermarket was overwhelming for me. Maybe I have built "muscle" and what I feel is being able to cope with everyday stuff, rather than being numb. Maybe a conversation to have with my T.

Hope everyone is doing OK today.

Sounds like a good conversation to have with the T. Let us know what the T says.

[Unrigged64072835]

I think I've been more numb because of meds than anything. We had to go get a loan to fix the roof yesterday and I felt absolutely nothing. It was just another thing to do. I would've been anxious and upset usually.

Not much of anything is pulling my trigger lately.

[Trace14]

Originally Posted by Fharraige

I think I've been more numb because of meds than anything. We had to go get a loan to fix the roof yesterday and I felt absolutely nothing. It was just another thing to do. I would've been anxious and upset usually.

Not much of anything is pulling my trigger lately.

That does sound rather numb. Sounds more numb to life than emotions. Are you comfortable with that? There are some emotions I can do without, but there are some I so want to feel again. Like love and laughter, general happiness, but they all have been muted from my life.