Does anybody else seem to be naturally "emotionally" numb? Or is it a med-related problem?

[MyUniqueChild]

I'm not sure if I am just cold and heartless or if it's because I've endured many traumas, but I don't tend to express emotion. Like, when I ponder the situations I am facing, I can see how they would be sad...but I rarely "feel" the sadness that most would feel and express. It is as though my tear ducts are dried up....I can't produce tears, even if something would technically produce emotion.

I WANT TO UNDERSTAND MYSELF! Yes, I am Bi-Polar (type I) but I always seem to stay in a hypo-manic state. I never seem to experience the lows, like I did when I was in my twenties.

What is everyone's experience or opinions on this?

[Mia898]

My friend has this and I blame his meds but may be him as he claims not meds.

[MyUniqueChild in reply to Mia898]

Gotcha! Thanks for your feedback! Hope you are well!

[Hidden]

Don't you have anyone to talk about the traumas you faced and probably you have had enough or suppress your feeling now?

[MyUniqueChild in reply to Hidden]

I have a trauma therapist who I have been seeing for the past 3 years, but she tends to help me deal with current life problems, rather than addressing past trauma. I'm not sure if this is normal or if she just has a unique approach to treatment? IDK?

[Hidden in reply to MyUniqueChild]

If you could get support for your past trauma - perhaps family or friend or another therapist You could finally move forward

[MyUniqueChild in reply to Hidden]

I hope this will eventually be possible.

[MrRigatoni]

Hello pleased to meet you.

Please can I add nothing wrong being not able to show emotion.

I am hardened myself due to long term health histories and working for many charities as volunteer.

I do have time for ever one show compassion and empathy.

Am and do respond to the negativities and depression of those suffering how can I help..

I am the one in an emergency fires and incidents calm cool collected every one panic stressed me in control.

Seen been so much had a full life of experiences.

If your like me then use this to heal help those to understand themselves.

I have mentioned before alcoholism seen death dying before my eyes every day month year for thirty years.

Use my experiences to become intermediary between families, volunteer community websites and much more.

Mental health is a part of me as well so use the lesson education knowledge to help guide those.

Please never feel sorry not ever saying do not have emotion. Use those experiences met many like yourself.

Mental health charities as support staff and because can identify and be strong be a good listener in control.

Need to be supportive and just can deal with it.

Some times we are our worst enemy we need to reach out and be aware of others plight.

I meet many not well never wish to do anything about it.

Attended more funerals than I would like to .

Being in hospices for children and adults as volunteer seen the teams do wonderful work .

All becomes the persona I am, so please if I just say anything can advise be supportive with.

Please ask remember your own mental health as a valued member is important too.

Please take care

[Hidden]

It may be part of your Mental Health Concern, however look to something that can help you now and not place it down to your Mental Health.

Go to the Chemist and ask if they have something to moisten your eyes, in fact in some Supermarkets my Wife purchases eye drops that work for her.

I have eye moisturizing pads for my Psoriasis they clean of the crusts of skin from around the eye and provide moisture around the eye. The drops are not expensive and it may be that will work for you

Have you had your eyes checked in the last twelve or six months, get them checked.

Remember however many people feel there mental health can make them feel numb to other peoples problems, it is part of the condition we sometimes feel.

Try other things off script before putting things down to Mental Health, sometimes we all have other minor problems that are easy to treat instead of waiting to see a GP who may not have any thing to treat you other than prescription medications. I have depression and my eyes feel dry, some drops or pads moisten they eye and at least you will refresh the eyes and lids

BOB

[Tammalu]

I would guess that your emotions are frozen up because of past trauma. You really need someone to help you try to remember and talk about your past traumas. I went into therapy for six years about 30 years ago. My therapist was a Jungian/Freudian/Primal Therapist. He had worked with many people with severe, suppressed trauma.

I didn't remember alot of my trauma. My therapist would have me lie back in a recliner and play music and ask me to tell him what was coming to mind. As I revealed thoughts that I thought were unimportant, he directed me to focus on them or not. As I focused on the important thoughts, I started to get more in touch with my emotions. He also analyzed my dreams, and analyzed my emotional reactions to him to help me get in touch with trauma I had experienced. After about 2 years of therapy, I started having severe flashbacks of physical and emotional abuse. It had taken 2 years of building trust with my therapist and of building some emotional intelligence in me before I knew what I was feeling and whether I should pay attention to particular emotions. As I began to pay more attention to my emotions, the flashbacks began. After about 3 years of intense flashbacks - 3-4/week, they began to slow down. I continued having flashbacks now and then for a few more years. Now I generally don't have them, my health is better, my emotions are more flexible, I don't fly off the handle nearly as much, and my brain works better - all because I'm not spending so much energy trying to suppress painful memories. It is worth the journey. It is hard to find therapists who can help you make that journey, but they are out there.