Numbness
A state in which you feel almost nothing — neither bad nor good.
How it shows up
People often describe it as »nothing’s wrong with me«. It isn’t peace; it is disconnection. It arises when there has been too much feeling and the system turned the volume down — but it can’t turn it down selectively, so the pleasant disappears too.
What we do with it in therapy
We don’t force our way through numbness. We start with the body and with small sensations, because feeling returns gradually. The first feeling to come back is usually anger — and that is a good sign, not a bad one.
See also
Oxytocin
The hormone that accompanies closeness, touch and trust — often called the attachment hormone.
Co-parenting
Parents working together on raising their children after a separation — a relationship that remains, although the partnership has ended.
Cognitive dissonance
The discomfort of holding two beliefs or actions that don't add up.
