You are the numb. The numbness is the source of the chronic disconnection from the emotions, the chronic protection from the pain, the chronic sense of the never-quite-feeling. The numbness is also the source of the chronic emotional isolation, the chronic cognitive impairment, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-alive that are the foundation of one of the most under-recognized, and most under-discussed, psychological phenomena in modern life. The phenomenon is the emotional numbness, and the numbness is the source of the chronic emotional isolation, the chronic cognitive impairment, and the chronic disconnection from the embodied life that are the foundation of the most under-developed, and most under-celebrated, character traits of modern life.
The moving past the numbness is the practice of reconnecting with the emotions when the walls have been built too high. The reconnecting is the source of the emotional regulation, the somatic release, and the meaningful life that are the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
What the Emotional Numbness Is
The emotional numbness is the chronic, often unconscious, experience of the disconnection from the emotions, the sensations, and the felt experience. The numbness is the source of the chronic emotional isolation, the chronic cognitive impairment, and the chronic disconnection from the embodied life. The numbness is the source of the difficulty of the navigation.
Research on emotional suppression by James Gross and others has shown that the chronic emotional suppression is the source of the chronic emotional numbness, and the numbness is the source of the chronic emotional isolation. The isolation is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
Research on dissociation as a defense by various researchers has shown that the dissociation is the source of the chronic emotional disconnection, and the disconnection is the source of the chronic emotional numbness. The numbness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
Why the Walls Get Built Too High
The walls get built too high for several reasons. The first is the chronic trauma exposure. The chronic trauma exposure is the source of the chronic wall building, and the building is the source of the chronic emotional numbness. The numbness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The second reason is the chronic emotional overwhelm. The chronic emotional overwhelm is the source of the chronic wall building, and the building is the source of the chronic emotional numbness. The numbness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The third reason is the cultural narrative of the strength. The cultural narrative of the strength is the source of the chronic wall building, and the building is the source of the chronic emotional numbness. The numbness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The fourth reason is the lack of the safe space. The lack of the safe space is the source of the chronic wall building, and the building is the source of the chronic emotional numbness. The numbness is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
What the Reconnecting Achieves
The reconnecting achieves several important things. The first is the emotional aliveness. The reconnecting is the source of the engagement with the emotional aliveness, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The aliveness is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
The second is the relational depth. The reconnecting is the source of the engagement with the relational depth, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The depth is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
The third is the somatic presence. The reconnecting is the source of the engagement with the somatic presence, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The presence is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
The fourth is the authentic self. The reconnecting is the source of the engagement with the authentic self, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The self is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
How to Move Past the Numbness
1. Notice the numbness as the signal. The notice is the source of the awareness, and the awareness is the foundation of the change. The notice is the source of the engagement, and the engagement is the foundation of the navigation.
2. Use the body scan to reconnect with the sensations. The body scan is the source of the engagement with the sensations, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The body scan is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
3. Practice the "small doses" of the feeling. The doses are the source of the engagement with the feeling, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The doses are the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
4. Use the safe space with the trusted person. The space is the source of the engagement with the safety, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The space is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
5. Practice the somatic experiencing. The experiencing is the source of the engagement with the body, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The experiencing is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
6. Get the professional help for the deeper work. The professional help is the source of the engagement with the depth, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The professional help is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life.
7. Celebrate the aliveness. The celebration is the source of the reinforcement, and the reinforcement is the source of the motivation. The celebration is the source of the engagement, and the engagement is the foundation of the navigation.
When the Reconnecting Is the Right Move
It is important to say clearly: the reconnecting is the right move for the chronic numbness, the chronic disconnection, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-alive. The reconnecting is the wrong move when the person is in the active trauma, the active dissociation, or the crisis that requires the professional intervention. The honest self-inquiry is whether the reconnecting is the source of the meaningful engagement, or whether the reconnecting is the source of the chronic overwhelm. The first is the source of the engagement, and the second is the source of the resistance.
The Takeaway
The moving past the numbness is one of the most under-recognized, and most under-celebrated, integrations in modern numb life. The integration is the source of the emotional regulation, the somatic release, and the meaningful life that are the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply embodied life. The cure is not to force the feeling. The cure is to reconnect gradually, to use the body, and to engage with the safe space. The next time you feel the numbness, pause long enough to use the body scan, to use the small doses, and to engage with the safe space. The engagement is the source of the more meaningful, more alive, more deeply embodied life.
