emotional numbing and detachment.

I think it is the Brains Defense Mechanism. We all have emotions, They are always happening, it's part of millions of years of evolution, No questioning that.

So what I TRULY believe is that when you experience emotions like intense sadness, guilt, anger etc. And if these emotions are Consistent enough throughout your life or if they persist for long periods of time, something along those lines, obviously you wouldn't want to feel such immensly over powering negative feelings all the time and most likely you'll eventually try to suppress and forget, but as I said what if it is happening regulary for example... and you just cannot deal with it. So you begin to look for anything to help you cope or escape all together. I really do believe your conscious self( the parts of yourself you have more control over) works with your subconscious in a way... and slowly builds up a state to cope where becoming emotionallly numb is your answer. At the start it seems like a good alternative or the only way around things and if you keep using this "depressive skill" it'll slowly become your go to response and could turn it into a frequent chemical reaction within the brain similar to a habit. ( because that's essentially what it is a chemical reaction) and without you even noticing it has crept in and become something normal, even to not so dramatic situations, its not only turned on when wanting to shy away from feelings like overwhelming sadness and guilt but smaller less dramatic situations trigger it and then that emotional numbing response state is appearing in everyday life, or at times you dont want it to. Now it's not as easy as just turning that " defence mechanism " off when you wish.

making life a very, very dark unpleasant, confusing and anxious place to be in.

Right now ,I want to go back in to the numbness.

Sorry to hear. Here to talk if you'd wish to, hope everything's not too bad for ya

((((Everyday12)))) I agree with you, nels13245. It's probably a defense mechanism, although probably not a very healthy one. But I think for many is better than the alternative.