Emotional numbness

[Aussiepom123]

I’m just going to jump straight in the deep end here. 

I’ve been feeling a certain way, unable to put my finger on what the word for it would be. Until I did the classic Google search on just feeling a lack of emotion lately due to stress from work. And bang - emotional numbness. The clear word to describe it. 

The only feeling I’ve felt is stress - I guess that’s a emotion. Because to be honest I’ve felt like I’m not feeling any emotion lately. 

It’s impacting my social relationships to a great degree outside of work. My inability to let go of the stress on the weekends and be okay is growing. 

I have no desire with my partner for love, intimacy or anything. I’m more irritable , more frustrated . Just feel like I cannot shake this phase. I often go through phases of depression or anxiety but this one just won’t budge. I’ve distracted myself with our house Reno’s . And going out for day trips. But nothing budges this lack of emotion and feeling lately.

i put a lot of pressure on myself , especially when it comes to intimacy and it’s just not there. I feel like I’m not normal, I feel like a robot, I feel tired of how much work is impacting me. 

I truly don’t know what the solution is - and work won’t change trust me- I enjoy it but I’m also overloaded and I guess it’s taking its toll a fair bit.

any one relate or can help? 

[therising]

Hi Aussiepom123

I feel for you so much, I really do. You sound so stressed and exhausted. When people say 'You've got no idea just how completely exhausted I am', we can only imagine. Imagining is a whole different experience to actually feeling complete exhaustion. Mind altering, emotionally numbing and depressing are just a few of the words that can describe such a level of exhaustion.

While I'm a gal who's experienced a variety of reasons for depression over the years, from chemical to mental and even soulful in some ways, stress combined with exhaustion has been one reason. It was actually my daughter who suggested GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome). Whether that's what I was dealing with at the time or not, I ticked all the boxes for the 3rd stage of GAS: Burnout, fatigue, depression, anxiety and decreased stress tolerance were just some of the things I was feeling. Decreased stress tolerance was a biggie. If someone simply asked me to go to the shop to get bread, that tiny challenge would set off my nervous system and change my breathing. The ring of my phone was a major trigger, as was hearing the sound of my own name in the lead up to being asked a favour. While I reformed my life to some degree to help with stress management and energy recharge, it took a fair amount of time and support to achieve. I couldn't have done it without support from people. 

If you decide to visit your GP, don't walk out of their office without some form of management plan and support. While some doctors are brilliant in the way they'll try and work out the culprits behind seriously low energy levels and depression, some may simply offer the 'advice' 'Exhaustion can be a normal part of everyone's life'. This was the kind of 'advice' I left a GPs office with before I was diagnosed by another with sleep apnea. Seriously depressing low energy levels should never be written off as 'normal'. Whether it involves blood tests, a mental health plan and/or other courses of action, there always needs to be action taken when emotion or energy in motion is almost non existent. We need energy in order to feel it in motion. The challenge is to work out why it's not there.

[Lost_Alone]

I have never heard of GAS but the symptoms described here sound familiar to me. 

Are there specific things that may have begun the numbness? 

[tranzcrybe]

Emotion is internal, Stress is external.

If emotion was fire, then stress is the wet blanket thrown on top - indiscriminately smothering the good with the bad.

[Happylife]

Hi Aussiepom123,

Really sorry to hear about this. Please don't put too much pressure on yourself, this will only aggravate your stress and anxiety levels. Nobody is perfect and I am sure you are doing everything you can to feel normal and not get caught up in this stress cycle.

Was there any particular situation that has led to this?