Signs You’re Emotionally Numb

1. You have to fake your emotions to people around you

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If you find that you have to consciously force yourself into giving an appropriate reaction so you don’t look out of place, this could be a sign you are emotionally numb. You are probably trying to conform to social norms by acting how people expect you to be.

2. Engaging in harmful or reckless behaviours

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Engaging in harmful or reckless behaviour is something most of us avoid because not only are there risks involved, but it also evokes feelings of fear. If you are emotionally numb, you are probably more likely to be immune to these feelings and won’t be put off by engaging in these behaviours.

3. Feeling like an outsider in life

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If you are experiencing emotional numbness, you might feel like an outsider in all aspects of your life. This is because you may struggle to understand why other people react to certain things with an emotional response and make you feel like the ‘odd one out’.

4. No longer having interest in the things you used to love

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One of the main reasons humans take part in activities of daily life is to evoke an emotional response like feelings of happiness or a sense of achievement. If you are emotionally numb, you may not experience these reactions and start to lose interest in taking part all together. 

5. Struggling to connect with those around you

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The most obvious sign you could be emotionally numb is having difficulty connecting with the people around you. You will also probably find it hard to relate to others, which is the foundation of building and maintaining relationships throughout our lives.

6. Life feels like a ‘dream’

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Dreams are usually obscure experiences that occur in our mind that are far away from reality, which is exactly why people who are emotionally numb feel as though they are actually living in a dream. Nothing feels real and nothing can harm you, which is a scary mindset to have.

7. You cut people off because you are emotionally unavailable

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If you are experiencing emotional numbness, you may find it hard to maintain relationships with people and cut them off so you don’t have to face up to the problem. Being emotionally unavailable can really impact how you connect with others and build bonds.

8. Having no response to situations that would typically evoke emotions

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If you have noticed that your emotional response to certain situations is either non-existent or does not match those around you, you could be emotionally numb. This is because you are struggling to feel anything towards the things around you that you know should impact you in some way.

9. Feeling like you are going through life on autopilot

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We all have to take part in everyday life but if you feel like you are just coasting through and doing things because you should, this could be a sign you are emotionally numb. You could be searching for a sense of purpose and wondering what it is all really for.

10. Not having a sense of worth for your life

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This relates back to the higher likelihood that you will engage in harmful or reckless behaviour if you are emotionally numb, because you do not have a sense of worth for your life. This means you will probably be more careless because you are not tuned in with your emotions.

11. You don’t care about the things when you should

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Being emotionally numb could mean you don’t care about the things happening around you, whether they be positive or negative. It is difficult to navigate these feelings when you know you should be impacted by something, but you have no emotions towards it.

12. Feeling disconnected from yourself

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It must be a strange sensation to be stumbling through life but not having any emotional response to things going on around us. This is how it feels if you are someone experiencing emotional numbness, which is why you will often feel very disconnected from your own existence. 

13. A breakdown in your relationships

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As we mentioned previously, building relationships with new people can be challenging when you’re emotionally numb. It can also impact existing relationships, as there may be a higher expectation from these people in your life to be there for them emotionally.

14. You are bored of your life

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This may not seem like an obvious sign you could be emotionally numb, but lacking any real response to the important things in your life can make you feel bored. If you’re not being stimulated by experiences, you will probably lose interest in these things all together. 

15. You have more of an emotional response to fictional scenarios

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Another common sign of emotional numbness is feeling more of a response to things like characters in a TV series or a fictional book you are reading, compared to things that are happening in your own life. This is because it may seem easier to connect to imaginary scenarios compared to reality.

16. Feeling like nothing really matters

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If you are emotionally numb, you could hold the attitude that nothing really matters because you are struggling to truly experience life. Motivation also stems from our emotions, which is why you might lack any drive to take part in daily activities. 

17. Having no concern for the welfare of others in your life

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This one may be a hard pill to swallow, because being emotionally numb doesn’t mean you wish any harm on those you care about, you may just struggle to feel any concern about their welfare. The same viewpoint will most likely apply to how you feel about yourself.

18. Struggling to express the appropriate emotions around others

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If you are emotionally numb, you may have noticed the way other people around you react to things and express how they feel. This may feel alien to you and although you try and conform by following suit, it doesn’t come naturally and would be difficult to keep up in social situations.

19. Inability to comfort others in emotional situations

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If you are emotionally numb, you will probably struggle to provide comfort to those or are dealing with a difficult situation. This is because you cannot understand their reaction and feel no personal need to be comforted in your life, so it is difficult to provide that for someone else.

20. You try and force feelings of happiness or sadness

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Nobody is claiming that being emotionally numb is a choice and you may really struggle with it. You may have tried everything you can to trigger emotions and force feelings in response to different situations, but this is not a long-term solution to the issue.

21. Disliking people who are emotionally intelligent

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If you are dealing with emotional numbness, you might find that you have a particular dislike towards people who are very in touch with their emotions and express them openly. This is because you can’t relate to their feelings or understand these reactions.

22. Difficulty maintaining concentration

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You may not expect this to be a sign of emotional numbness, but it turns out that having difficulty maintaining concentration is linked. This is because struggling to understand the purpose of life can impact your motivation to engage in daily activities.

23. Struggling to connect with romantic partners

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All relationships require both parties to provide a certain level of emotional intelligence, but romantic relationships have an extra level of expectation from the other person to express your feelings. This is why you might struggle in this department if you are emotionally numb.

24. Your main emotion is anger

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Being emotionally numb doesn’t mean you are completely cut off, it can come in different shapes and forms. Some people just feel like all of their emotions are dimmed down, whereas others can only feel certain ones. A common report is the main emotion being anger, as this is our most powerful one.

25. Having adverse reactions to people who express their emotions

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If you have adverse reactions to people in an emotional state and can’t stand to be around them, this could be a sign you are emotionally numb. Struggling to deal with people around you are expressing their emotions could be because you don’t experience this yourself.

26. You feel jealous of people

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Once again, you can still have feelings of jealousy and be emotionally numb. This can be a really hard situation to identify and navigate, and it would be normal for someone to then feel envious of other people around them who don’t struggle with this issue and can express themselves freely. 

27. A feeling of emptiness inside

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Although most people use this as a saying, people who are emotionally numb actually report that they feel “empty” inside or they feel a general sense that something is missing. This is your soul telling you that you are not connecting with your emotions and letting your body feel.

28. Always feeling drained

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Although you won’t have to deal with the exhaustion that can come with experiencing different emotions, being emotionally numb can be just as draining. This is because you are struggling to feel anything in response to experiences or understand your purpose in life.

29. A lack of motivation

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As we have mentioned previously, being emotionally numb can make it difficult to understand the purpose of life or stop you from engaging in different experiences. All of these things relate back to a lack of motivation which is a primary factor of emotional numbness. 

30. Feeling concerned about your non-existent emotions

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Although some may argue that feeling concerned is an emotion in itself, you can still be emotionally numb and want to do something about it. It can impact forming relationships and engaging in everyday life, which could be something they want to work on.

31. Feeling detached from people you love

Image Source: GQPeople who become emotionally numb can end up becoming distant or detached from the people they care about most. Sometimes people feel almost cut off from others, and it becomes difficult to articulate this to loved ones. This adds pressure and strain to relationships, which then intensifies this feeling of detachment.

32. You can't access your own feelings

Image Source: Pokemon WeWhen we experience emotional numbness, we can find it really hard to gain access to our own feelings. It can seem like there is a strange blockage that is preventing you from trying to understand how you really feel, or that your emotions have continued to shut down or disappear over a long period of time.

33. You feel physically flat

Image Source: Pop SugarEmotional numbness doesn’t just affect your feelings and mental health- it can affect you physically too. While you might feel tired and slow, you might also feel like your physical health is lacking, and that you can’t actually keep fit and active like you used to do. Try and encourage yourself to take a short walk if you can.

34. You prefer to be alone rather than being with others

Image Source: NMEPeople with emotional numbness typically avoid others and prefer to spend time in isolation. This may be because they are scared of being misunderstood, or feel that they can’t connect with other people properly. Even if people are unconsciously emotionally numb, they can display avoidance behaviors that stop them from confronting their issues.

35. You can't experience happiness or joy

Image Source: Know Your MemeIf you’re having difficulty experiencing happiness, joy, and other positive feelings, it may be a sign that you’re emotionally numb. It’s not that you don’t want to be happy; it’s that you feel like you physically can’t feel that emotion any longer. This may also be a sign of depression, so be sure to have a chat with your doctor if you have concerns.

36. You feel like you can't full participate in life

Image Source: Know Your MemeEmotional numbness can hold you back in numerous ways, but one big tell-tale sign is when you feel that you can’t fully participate in your own life. You may find yourself wanting to retreat from new situations and people, which means you may end up missing out on opportunities for you to grow as a person.

37. You feel like you don't really matter

Image Source: Slash FilmWhen you feel emotionally numb, a lot of things suddenly become insignificant- including yourself. Nothing really matters; your friends and family don’t matter, the way life turns out doesn’t matter. You don’t matter either. However, it’s important to remember that our minds sometimes play tricks on us, and tells us things that aren’t true when we feel low. You DO actually matter, and you are important.

38. You keep getting sick

Image Source: TodayThis might not sound like one of the most obvious signs of emotional numbness, but when you’re struggling mentally, you can actually end up getting sick much more often. Experts have found that people with mental struggles get a range of physical symptoms including headaches and muscle tension. Some people also end up with weakened immune systems, so they get sick more easily.

39. Emotions are only felt in the body as sensations, but not by your mind

Image Source: Know Your MemeThis one is a little tricky to pinpoint, so it might take some time for you to establish where exactly you’re feeling your emotions. Are you just experiencing them in your physical body, or are you feeling these emotions in your mind too? If not, it may well be a sign that you’re emotionally numb right now.

40. You wonder while you don't feel more sad when you lose something or someone

Image Source: Chapter 1- Take 1While a lot of signs of emotional numbness tend to focus on a lack of positive emotions, there can be a big lack of negative emotions too. Sadness and despair are all common human feelings, and they rise up naturally when we experience grief and loss. If you don’t experience these emotions when you lose someone or something, it might be a good time to speak to a mental health professional.

41. You get irratated easily

Image Source: Know Your MemeIt's not just outright anger that emotionally numb people can experience. It can also take the form of low-level irritability too. You might not completely lose your cool in situations, but you may become annoyed or frustrated with others, or on a constant short fuse. This can also be a sign of anxiety too.

42. You struggle to explain how you feel

Image Source: Know Your MemeTrying to articulate how you feel when you’re emotionally numb is difficult to say the least. How can you explain how you feel, when you’re not even sure how you feel anymore? If you’re shutting off your emotions, you lose touch with them, so it becomes harder to speak up to someone. You may find yourself stammering or clamming up.

43. You observe yourself in situations and wonder why you you're not feeling anything

Image Source: Wizarding WorldDo you sometimes observe yourself in certain situations? Do you notice that you’re not emotionally responding to the situation in a way that you should? If so, you may well be experiencing signs of emotional numbness. This is particularly noticeable if everyone around you is laughing or crying, and you’re not able to do the same.

44. You find it strange when other people show emotion

Image Source: Teen VogueIf you’ve been feeling emotionally numb for a while, you may notice that you’re finding it difficult to deal with other people’s emotions- and how to react to them. Other people’s emotions may feel strange or alien to you, and may even make you feel uncomfortable. This can make you withdraw even further away from others.

45. Distorted or confused sense of time

Image Source: HodinkeeEmotional numbness can cause distorted or a confused sense of time. This means that time has become meaningless to you; you may feel that all days and nights are the same, or that time is slowing down. Some people even report feeling like they’ve hit “Groundhog Day”, where the same situations happen over and over again with no change whatsoever.

46. You don't have any aims or goals

Image Source: Wallpaper AbyssIt’s hard to motivate yourself to do much when you’re emotionally numb. You may struggle to focus on your dreams and ambitions, or feel like the ones you used to have are now stupid or meaningless. People who experience emotional numbness don’t tend to have any goals, which can make it hard to think positively about the future.

47. Your life doesn't feel like your own

Image Source: MicrosoftSometimes, you can feel like your life isn’t truly your own when you have emotional numbness. Your mind convinces you that you’re just acting a part in everyone else’s life like a side character in a movie. Or, that you do have a life, but you have zero control over it. If you feel this way, try to reach out to a therapist if you can.

48. You can't detect physical signs of emotion in others

Image Source: The MightyWhen we shut our emotions down over a prolonged period of time, we can start to find it difficult to detect emotions in other people too. For example, if a loved one is upset, you might not really notice anything is wrong. And when you don’t respond, it can then make that person more upset, as they aren’t getting any reassurance or empathy from you.

49. You don't know how to process life events

Image Source: Bloody DisgustingEmotional numbness means you lose your ability to process life events. Whether you’re experiencing good news or bad news, you’re not able to sense and respond to these events in ways that you normally would, which can cause deep, unconscious stress or fear. If this is happening to you, try journaling. It can help you untangle your feelings and make sense of what has happened.

50. You don't know what deep connections feel like anymore

Image Source: LooperForming or maintaining those important deep connections is really hard to do when you’re feeling emotionally numb. You don’t know how to talk to them or show any affection anymore, and you can end up missing those key emotional cues from others. This can then increase feelings of loneliness and isolation.

51. You're not fully present

Image Source: SlateIf you’re currently experiencing emotional numbness, you can sometimes feel like you’re not fully present in the moment, or not fully present with others. It’s as if you’re far away from everyone else, and you’re looking at them through a pane of thick glass. It can be helpful to practice mindfulness or meditation to help with this.

52. Episodic or ongoing anmesia

Image Source: The MirrorThis is an extreme symptom of emotional numbness, so if this is something you’re currently dealing with, seek medical help straight away. If you’re becoming unresponsive and withdrawn for an extended period, you might be unable to recall certain situations, or how you were feeling at a particular time. Amnesia can also happen after bouts of rage or irritability.

53. Loss of self-awareness

Image Source: Entertainment WeeklyThis goes hand in hand with amnesia. If you’re not as aware of yourself as you used to be (your feelings, wants, and needs) then you may be experiencing emotional numbness. You may also find that this affects your ability to monitor your own behavior, which may become testing for your friends and loved ones.

54. You have low self esteem

Image Source: Know Your MemeMany of us can have low self-esteem even if weren’t not feeling emotionally numb. However, those who do experience emotional numbness don’t tend to feel all that positive about themselves and life in general. Emotionally numb people can cut themselves off from others, which means it can be difficult for them to build confidence in social situations.

55. You feel like nothing can provoke you into an emotional reaction

Image Source: SB NationSome people who have experienced emotional numbness for a prolonged period of time can sometimes feel like nothing can provoke them into an emotional reaction anymore. As emotions continue to shut down, people can feel more and more detached from their feelings, so it becomes hard to display emotions in any given situation.

56. Your friends struggle to make conversation with you

Image Source: Know Your MemeAs we’ve covered already, emotional numbness can put a strain (and even damage) on your relationships with loved ones. Your casual friends may struggle to have conversations with you if you aren’t ever really engaged, which means that these friendships may start to break down over time. But your true, best friends should still be there for you, even if you’re having a bad time right now.

57. Your mind always feels blank

Image Source: Comic BookPeople describe their emotional numbness in lots of different ways, but a common trait is a feeling of a “blank” mind. It can feel like there aren’t many thoughts, feelings or emotions passing through our brains like they normally would, which can make many people feel worse about themselves and their condition.

58. People see you as an "emotionless robot"

Image Source: LooperHave you ever been described as an “emotionless robot” by your friends or family? If so, people around may be starting to recognise that you’re becoming emotionally numb and cut off from other people. And this can sometimes happen before you’ve even realised that you’re struggling with emotional numbness yourself.

59. You're not mentally available for people

Image Source: Creator SetDo you ever find yourself struggling to listen to other people talk about their problems? Being mentally unavailable to people is a symptom of ongoing emotional numbness, as you simply don’t have the capacity to deal with these situations. When people come to you for advice or to offload, it can feel incredibly draining- especially if the other person is angry or upset.

60. You're becoming forgetful

Image Source: Know Your MemeSo we’ve covered a lot of symptoms of emotional numbness. But here’s a less common one- becoming forgetful. Those who are emotionally numb struggle to retain information like they used to, so they can often feel confused or unsure about plans or schedules. This can make it hard to carry out daily activities.

61. You've been hurt before

Image Source: Teen VogueOne of the main causes of becoming emotionally numb is when you've been hurt before and you shut yourself off as a result. If you've had something in your past that left you emotionally, physically or mentally (or all of the above) hurt, it's likely you might see emotional numbness at some point.

62. And you're protecting yourself from getting hurt again

Image Source: RedditAs a result of being hurt before, it can be a defence mechanism to shut yourself down to avoid getting hurt again. If you don't feel anything - or don't let yourself feel anything, whether that's positive or negative - then it's less likely the same thing as before will happen to you again.

63. You've no interest in new hobbies

Image Source: RedditNot only do you not have any interest in hobbies you already had, or things you used to enjoy doing, you have zero interest in finding anything new and exciting to fill your time. You don't have the energy or interest in seeking out new fun things to do, or new skills to learn - and especially if you don't want to do the things you were already doing.

64. You've no interest in career progression

Image Source: RedditAlongside your hobbies, you have zero interest in the future of your job. That isn't to say that you don't want job security or that you're not a hard worker, it's more than you feel numb to the idea of any positive progression, feedback, interviewing for a new position or anything towards the future. You're just on autopilot showing up for work everyday - do your job and then go home.

65. You've actually come to fear being around people

Image Source: Know Your MemeYou might have started to develop a fear of actually leaving the house, for one reason or another. The thought of being around other people - and especially if you're expected to talk to them - can fill you with anxiety. The more you avoid it, and the more you think about it, the scarier a thought it becomes.

66. You find journaling impossible

Image Source: RedditWriting a regular journal, or even a gratitude journal, can be a great way of exploring your feelings and reminding yourself what you have going on. Even if you're feeling numb to emotions, you can still write down that experience in a journal and try to make sense of it. But you might be so numb that you can't even bring yourself to write any of it in a journal.

67. You'll do anything just to feel something

Image Source: RedditYou've actually started seeking things out to do with the intention of feeling anything, even if that's pain or something uncomfortable. You may have started looking for experiences you don't have any interest in usually, such as beauty treatments, therapy treatments or adrenaline-filled adventure sports knowing that you'll probably fail and probably hurt yourself type thing.

68. You don't even feel negative about anything at all

Image Source: RedditBeing emotionally numb also includes the negative. But you don't even feel negative about anything either. You don't feel like you want to complain about bad things that happen to you, you don't care about bad weather, late trains or rush hour traffic. You don't care about a bad tasting meal or anything disappointing. You feel nothing negative.

69. You don't watch or read the news

Image Source: RedditThe news is going to be a big reminder for you that you're not feeling an emotional reaction. The news is usually 99% sad, tragic or disaster-type events happening around the world, and you may start to feel guilty that you're not having an emotional reaction to anything happening in the world. So it's much easier for you just to avoid watching/reading it altogether.

70. You feel mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted

Image Source: RedditYou don't just feel tired - you feel exhausted with everything, in every possible way, on a daily basis. Your body is physically tired and aching, your mind is cloudy, fuzzy and not working properly and you feel too tired to feel anything at all - apart from feeling tired! You can't focus or concentrate, and you might even spend most of your time in bed.

71. Nobody talks to you about their problems anymore

Image Source: RedditPeople have started to realise that your emotions are struggling and you're not really giving much back when it comes to them trying to talk to you or ask for advice. You may have noticed friends and family have pulled back from asking you for any favors or advice, and don't talk to you about anything they have going on if it's negative.

72. People are constantly asking if you're okay

Image Source: PinterestYou're obviously giving off an aura that makes people ask if you're okay. This could be you looking tired, looking emotionless, not saying much or just the vibe that you're keeping your emotions inside. You may get family and friends checking in on you a lot more, and you may even get strangers you come across asking if you're doing okay.

73. You don't pay attention to others in the street, or people-watch

Image Source: RedditMost people will pay at least a little interest to who's around them in public, and do a bit of people-watching if they stop in the window of a café or coffee shop. But for you, it's almost like you're walking through a dream of faceless people you're not interested in. You might well be alone for all the attention you pay to others.

74. You're not interested in looking at social media

Image Source: RedditYou not only don't have the energy to post your own stuff on social media, but you're also not interested whatsoever in reading or seeing what other people post. In the same way you react to the news, you don't have any energy to give to the ups and downs of what's going on in people's lives - whether that's people you know, or celebs.

75. You live in fear of birthdays or the holidays

Image Source: RedditBirthdays or the holiday season mean more social situations and more attention on you. You absolutely dread situations like this because it's likely you won't be able to give the emotions people expect from you, like being happy it's your birthday and being overjoyed at presents. You might even feel guilty that you can't express any emotion towards celebrations.

76. Procrastination is all you know

Image Source: RedditYou find focusing and concentration impossible, which means procrastination is all you know at the moment. You're constantly distracted thinking about other things, or starting on other tasks other than what you need to do. This could all be a coping mechanism for your distracted brain, or you may be jumping from one task to another so you don't have to stop and think about how you're feeling (or not feeling).

77. You actively seek out things that might give you an emotional reaction

Image Source: IdleMemeYou might have started looking for things you hope will make you deliriously happy or really upset - or anything in between. You might do an active Google search for the most upsetting thing you can think of, or watch a TikTok vid that loads of people are commenting on to say it makes them so happy - just to see if you can have any reaction at all.

78. It actually feels like a chore to smile

Image Source: RedditYou might actually feel like the muscles around your mouth are stuck and it's impossible to smile. If you're forcing one, it feels like the most difficult and exhausting thing you could possibly do. The thought of just moving your face to smile is enough to make you tired just thinking about it. You actively avoid situations where you might need to force yourself to smile.

79. Or move your face at all

Image Source: RedditAs if forcing yourself to smile was bad enough, how about your entire face? You don't want to move your face at all, your muscles feel weak and even keeping your eyes open most of the time can feel like a chore. You may have even stopped looking in the mirror or properly washing your face because you're feeling disconnected from it.

80. You're likely to ignore messages from people

Image Source: How-to GeekMessages from others mean that you have to both use effort to reply, and fake an emotion to give them what they want. You may find it difficult lying to people or pretending, so it's easier just to not message at all. Or, you may be so distracted and numb that you just can't bring yourself to type out a message!