Why do I feel disconnected from my emotions?

Feeling disconnected from your emotions, or depression/emotional-numbness" class="internal-link">emotional numbness, is often your mind's way of protecting you from overwhelming feelings. This can develop after Psychological trauma, during periods of intense Psychological stress management, or as a symptom of Major depressive disorder. Your emotional system essentially creates distance from feelings that feel too intense or threatening to experience fully. While this numbness might have served as protection at some point, it can become problematic when it prevents you from experiencing positive emotions like joy, love, or excitement, or when it makes it difficult to navigate Interpersonal relationship and make decisions. You might feel like you're going through the motions of life without really feeling present or engaged. Sometimes emotional disconnection develops gradually - you might have learned early in life that emotions were dangerous, unwelcome, or led to negative consequences, so you learned to shut them down. Other times it happens suddenly after a traumatic event or major loss. Reconnecting with your emotions is possible but often requires patience and professional support. A therapist can help you understand what caused the disconnection and guide you through the process of safely feeling again. This might involve starting with physical sensations, practicing mindfulness practice" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mindfulness, or gradually exposing yourself to emotional experiences in a controlled way.