A feeling of emotional flatness, detachment, or being cut off from one’s own feelings, from other people, or from the world. Emotional numbing is a common response to overwhelming trauma — the mind’s way of protecting itself from emotional pain that is too intense to process all at once. It can manifest as an inability to feel joy, love, or warmth; feeling like a bystander in one’s own life; loss of interest in things that previously brought pleasure; or a sense that the world feels unreal. Co-survivors and survivors alike may experience emotional numbing in the aftermath of a cardiac arrest, sometimes alternating with periods of intense emotion. While numbing provides short-term protection, when it persists it can damage relationships and prevent recovery. It is a recognised symptom of PTSD and depression and responds to psychological treatment.
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