If you’ve become emotionally numb to life, say goodbye to these 12 behaviors

Feeling a bit off lately? Like you’re just going through the motions?

You know, that feeling when life seems more black-and-white than full color?

Hey, I get it. We all have those days or even weeks.

But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be that way.

In this article, we’re going to unpack some habits that might be making you feel numb.

We’re saying goodbye to these behaviors.

And hello to a life of feeling connected again.

So, are you ready?

Let’s jump right in! 

1) Living on autopilot

You know what I’m talking about. It’s like you’re just going through the motions of life, without really being present.

Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, go to work, come home, sleep. Repeat.

Sound familiar?

This is called living on autopilot and it’s a fast lane to feeling emotionally numb.

When we’re not actively engaged in our lives, we start to feel disconnected.

But don’t worry, we can turn this ship around.

How? By starting to pay attention to the little things in life.

Take a moment to truly taste your coffee in the morning. Feel the sun on your skin. Notice the color of the sky.

These simple actions can help you get off autopilot and start feeling connected again.

2) Ignoring your feelings

Ever found yourself brushing off your feelings?

Maybe you’re feeling sad, but tell yourself it’s no big deal. Or perhaps you’re upset, but decide to just ignore it.

It’s easy to think that ignoring our feelings makes them disappear but that’s far from the truth.

What really happens is they pile up in the background, causing us to feel emotionally numb over time.

We need to start acknowledging our feelings, both the good and the bad.

Feeling sad? It’s okay, let yourself feel it. Angry? That’s fine too.

By acknowledging and accepting our emotions, we can start to reconnect with ourselves.

Remember, every feeling is valid and you have every right to experience them.

3) Being too harsh on yourself

Okay, confession time. I used to be my own worst critic.

If something went wrong, I’d immediately blame myself. If I made a mistake, I’d spend hours beating myself up over it. Sounds familiar, right?

Well, let me tell you, being so hard on myself was one of the biggest contributors to my own emotional numbness.

Over time, I realized that constantly criticizing myself wasn’t helping. In fact, it was doing more harm than good.

Instead of learning from my mistakes and moving on, I was getting stuck in this cycle of self-criticism and guilt.

And guess what? Once I started to treat myself with more kindness and understanding, things started to change.

I started to feel more connected to my emotions and to myself.

So, if you’re also being too harsh on yourself, it’s time to let go of that habit.

Remember, we’re all human and we all make mistakes. It’s how we learn and grow.

So next time you mess up, try treating yourself with the same kindness you’d show a friend. You might just be surprised at how much better you feel.

4) Spending too much time alone

Here’s an interesting fact: humans are social creatures.

According to research, social interaction not only helps us feel more connected, but it’s also crucial for our mental health.

Now, I’m not saying you need to be the life of the party or constantly be surrounded by people.

But if you’ve been spending a lot of time alone lately, it could be contributing to your feelings of emotional numbness.

Try reaching out to a friend or family member. Even a quick chat or a coffee date can make a world of difference.

And hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, why not join a club or pick up a new hobby? It’s a great way to meet new people and stir up those dormant emotions.

5) Not taking care of your physical health

Let’s take a moment to talk about something really close to my heart – our physical health.

See, the thing is, our bodies and minds are deeply connected. When one suffers, so does the other.

If you’re not eating well, or skipping out on exercise, or missing out on sleep, it’s not just your body that feels the impact. Your emotions do too.

Feeling emotionally numb could be your body’s way of telling you that something’s off.

So please, take care of yourself. You deserve to feel good, both physically and emotionally.

Drink plenty of water. Eat nourishing food. Move your body in ways that feel good to you. Get enough rest.

Taking care of your physical health can have a huge impact on your emotional wellbeing.

6) Not setting personal boundaries

I’ll be honest with you – I used to be a ‘yes’ person.

You know, the kind of person who finds it hard to say no, even when saying yes meant stretching myself too thin.

I thought saying yes all the time would make people like me more. But all it did was leave me feeling drained and emotionally disconnected.

That’s when I realized the importance of setting personal boundaries.

Learning to say no, taking time for myself, deciding what I will and won’t tolerate – these things made a big difference.

I started feeling more in tune with my own needs and emotions.

So if you’re also a ‘yes’ person, it might be time to start setting some personal boundaries.

It can be tough at first, but trust me, it’s worth it in the end.

You have the right to put yourself first. And doing so can help bring your emotions back into focus.

7) Running from change

I’m going to be real with you. Change is scary. It’s unpredictable, it’s uncertain, and it throws us off our comfortable routines.

But here’s the raw truth: avoiding change is like living in a bubble. And that bubble can pretty numbing after a while.

See, change is what makes life vibrant. It pushes us out of our comfort zones, makes us feel things we’ve never felt before.

But if we keep dodging it, we’re missing out on those raw and real human emotions – fear, excitement, anticipation, joy.

So if you’ve been running from change, it might be time to stop. Take a deep breath, and embrace it.

Yes, it will be uncomfortable at first. But that discomfort? That’s you feeling again. And trust me, it’s worth it.

8) Ignoring your passions

Here’s something fascinating: a study found that people who engage in activities they’re passionate about feel more positive and have higher self-esteem.

But what happens when we ignore our passions?

When we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life that we forget to do what we love?

That’s right, we start to feel disconnected. Numb.

If you’ve been neglecting your passions, it’s time to reignite that flame.

Maybe you love painting, hiking, or playing music. Whatever it is, make time for it.

Doing something you love not only brings joy but also helps you reconnect with your emotions.

Remember, life is too short to ignore what makes your heart sing.

9) Constant comparison

I’ll let you in on a secret: I used to constantly compare.

You know, always looking at what others had, what they were doing, how they seemed to have it all together. It was exhausting.

And worse, it made me feel numb, like I was living someone else’s life instead of my own.

When I finally took a step back and stopped comparing my life to others’, things started to shift.

I started focusing on my own journey, my own progress, my own happiness.

And guess what? I started feeling again. Feeling proud of my accomplishments, excited about my goals, content with my life.

So if you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, it’s time to take a step back.

Your life is about you, not them.

And focusing on your own journey can help you reconnect with your emotions and start feeling alive again.

10) Staying in toxic relationships

Here’s some honest truth: toxic relationships can suck the life out of you.

Whether it’s a friend, a partner, or even a family member, being around someone who constantly brings you down can make you feel numb.

You start to question your worth, your decisions, your feelings.

But let me tell you this: you deserve better.

You deserve relationships that uplift you, not bring you down, make you feel alive, and not numb.

So if there’s a toxic relationship in your life, it might be time to reconsider it.

It won’t be easy, but you’re strong. And your emotional health is worth it.

11) Neglecting self-reflection

Let’s get real for a moment: self-reflection can be tough.

It requires us to confront our thoughts and feelings, the good and the bad.

But avoiding self-reflection means avoiding our true selves. And that can lead to emotional numbness.

Taking time each day to reflect on our feelings and experiences can help us reconnect with ourselves.

So why not give it a try? Grab a journal, or just take a few minutes each day to think about how you’re feeling.

It might be uncomfortable at first, but with time, it can help bring back the color to your life.

12) Ignoring the world around you

Last but not least, let’s talk about the world around us.

When we’re feeling numb, it’s easy to retreat into our own bubble and ignore what’s happening in the world.

But this isolation can often make us feel even more disconnected.

Engaging with the world around us – whether it’s participating in community events or just taking a walk in nature – can help us feel more connected and less numb.

So take a step outside your bubble. The world is waiting for you.

And remember: it’s okay to feel numb. But it’s also okay to let go of it and start feeling again. You’ve got this.