Am I Experiencing Emotional Numbness?

Take this quiz to find out.

Emotional numbness is the inability to feel your emotions as intensely as you normally would. People who are dealing with emotional numbness often feel empty or detached, even in situations where they’d typically feel happy, excited, sad, or angry.

If you’re wondering whether or not you’re experiencing emotional numbness, you’re in the right place. This quiz can help you take stock of your symptoms and figure out your next steps.

Disclaimer: This quiz is not meant to be a diagnostic tool and shouldn’t be used as one. If you suspect that you’re dealing with a mental health condition associated with emotional numbness, see a licensed mental health professional to address your concerns.

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Questions Overview

1. I’ve lost interest in hobbies and activities that used to make me happy.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
2. I’ve been zoning out and losing focus a lot lately.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
3. I feel numb in situations that would normally cause strong emotions.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
4. I’ve been avoiding spending time with my friends and family a lot.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
5. I’m uncomfortable talking about my feelings to others.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
6. Special events like birthdays and holidays aren’t exciting to me anymore.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
7. I feel really unmotivated at work or school.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
8. I’ve been having a hard time empathizing with others.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
9. I rarely feel excited, joyful, or fulfilled anymore.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
10. Things that would normally make me angry or sad have no effect on me right now.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
11. I’ve been feeling really tired and fatigued lately.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
12. I’ve been unable to laugh or cry in situations where I normally would.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree
13. I’ve gone through something stressful, overwhelming, or traumatic recently.
  1. Strongly agree
  2. Slightly agree
  3. Slightly disagree
  4. Strongly disagree

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Emotional Numbness 101

If you’re dealing with emotional numbness, this means your emotions are less intense than usual. Feelings like joy, excitement, sadness, and anger may be dampened for you, or you could feel detached from them completely. Here are some specific signs and symptoms of emotional numbness to look out for:

  • Feeling “flat” or empty, like you can’t fully participate in your life.[1]
  • Having difficulty feeling and expressing affection, love, fear, anger, sadness, or excitement.
  • Feeling like you can’t access your emotions even in intense situations.
  • Being unable to cry or laugh in situations when you normally would.
  • Issues with focus and concentration.
  • Persistent fatigue and tiredness.
  • Lack of motivation and a general feeling that nothing matters.
  • Losing interest in hobbies or activities you used to enjoy.
  • Feeling emotionally detached from friends and family.
  • Choosing to isolate yourself rather than spend time with others.[2]

Causes of Emotional Numbness

  • Trauma: Emotional numbness can be a coping mechanism after experiencing something very traumatic, and it’s a common symptom among people who’ve been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • Grief: Some people may experience emotional numbness as a way to lessen the pain after experiencing a major loss (like the death of a loved one).
  • Mental Health Issues: Certain mental health conditions like depression, borderline personality disorder, and schizophrenia may cause emotional numbness.
  • Medications: Emotional numbness can be a side effect of certain antidepressant medications, especially selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
  • Substance use: The use of alcohol, cannabis, opiates, or opioids can lessen emotional reactivity.
  • Traumatic brain injuries: Some people who experience traumatic brain injuries end up experiencing something called socioemotional dysfunction, a symptom that includes emotional numbness.[3]

Treating Emotional Numbness

  • Therapy and/or psychiatry: A mental health professional can assess the cause of your emotional numbness and come up with a treatment plan that works for you.
  • Medication adjustments: If the emotional numbness is a side effect of your antidepressant, your doctor can adjust your dose or potentially prescribe a different medication.
  • Grounding exercises: Grounding exercises involve calling your awareness to your body or physical surroundings, which can help you feel more connected and present.
  • Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices like yoga, journaling, and meditation can also help you feel more in tune with your emotions.[4]

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Any medically related content, whether User Content or otherwise found on the Service, is not intended to be medical advice or instructions for medical diagnosis or treatment, and no physician-patient or psychotherapist-patient relationship is, or is intended to be, created.

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References

  1. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/depression/i-feel-nothing-emotional-numbness
  2. ↑ https://share.upmc.com/2022/06/emotional-blunting/
  3. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/health/what-is-emotional-blunting
  4. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/depression/i-feel-nothing-emotional-numbness#next-steps