Why do I feel so numb? Why can't I cry? Working through Emotional Numbing and Dissociation

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Nov 7, 2025

Emotional numbness can feel like detachment or going through life on autopilot. It often stems from trauma, chronic stress, or grief, manifesting as a protective response from the nervous system. Explore how childhood coping strategies can turn into adult habits and discover practical steps to reconnect with emotions, like mindfulness and movement. Learn to approach numbness with curiosity and gentleness. By understanding its roots and employing grounding techniques, you can gradually reawaken feelings and find healing.

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INSIGHT

Numbness Is A Survival Response

Emotional numbness is a nervous-system survival response, not a personal failing.
The dorsal vagal freeze/shutdown protects you by disconnecting when threat feels inescapable.

INSIGHT

Multiple Triggers For Numbing

Multiple causes can trigger numbness: overwhelm, grief, chronic stress, depression, and learned childhood coping.
Understanding the cause helps choose whether medical, therapeutic, or self-regulation approaches are needed.

INSIGHT

Numbing Often Becomes A Habit

Numbing can be a learned habit from childhood when showing emotion felt unsafe.
That early survival skill can persist into adulthood as addictions or chronic dissociation.

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Emotional numbing and dissociation is often a response to trauma, grief or loss. You might feel empty, dead inside, or like you can't cry. Numbness is a common symptom of PTSD.

Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

check out our free course Grounding Skills for Stress, Anxiety and PTSD: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd/?utm_medium=YTDescription&utm_source=YouTube

Full Video w/ Thomas: https://youtu.be/mIypaYoKXQg

Embodiment playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-FLbFboMWs&list=PLiUrrIiqidTVO0sPOvlvYyAc0XJhsQQi8

Emotional numbness can feel like you’re cut off from life—flat, disconnected, or like you’re just going through the motions. Many people describe feeling blank, unable to cry, or watching life from the outside. This experience is more common than you think, and it’s often a nervous system response to overwhelming stress or trauma. In this video, Emma McAdam from Therapy in a Nutshell explains why people go numb or experience dissociation, and what you can do about it. We’ll explore the science of the freeze response, how numbing protects us when emotions are too big, and why it shows up after trauma, grief, chronic stress, or burnout.

Learn how to stop nightmares and night terrors in adults, understand PTSD-related sleep issues, and get practical treatment tips for better rest and recovery. Learn the skills to Regulate your Emotions, join the membership: https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/membership

What’s the difference between nightmares and night terrors—and how do you stop them, especially in adults? In this video, we break down nightmares vs night terrors, including how they relate to PTSD, trauma, and stress. Learn how to recognize the signs of nightmare disorder, and what treatments like Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, trauma-focused therapy, and sleep hygiene can do to help. We also explore night terrors in adults, which are rare but sometimes linked to PTSD. Whether you're seeking effective night terrors treatment, support for trauma-related sleep issues, or just want to understand why your sleep feels so disturbing, this video offers insight and real tools. If you or a loved one suffer from intense dreams or frightening sleep episodes, you’re not alone—and healing is possible. #Nightmares #NightTerrors #NightTerrorsInAdults #HowToStopNightmaresInAdults #NightmareDisorder #PTSD #sleeptherapy

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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health. In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger Institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life's direction.

And deeper than all of that, the Gospel of Jesus Christ orients my personal worldview and sense of security, peace, hope, and love https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/believe

If you are in crisis, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org or 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local emergency services.