Numbness
Family: Rejection and shutdown
How it differs from similar states
I feel nothing; emptiness after shock or trauma.
How this can feel in the body
An empty stare, no feelings—your body has temporarily shut down after the shock.
It usually comes up when
Shock, trauma, overwhelming stress beyond your capacity.
What this might be pointing to
Protection from the unbearable: the mind temporarily turns feeling down after a shock.
What you can do with this
Emotional numbness protects you from the unbearable. Don't force yourself out of it. Safety and warmth come first. Your feelings will gradually return.
Where the name comes from
Emotional numbness is an internal protective mechanism—your mind temporarily disconnects from feeling after shock.
Not quite it?
Closest by feel — the same ones the compass would show.
Two minutes, and you will see whether this is really it