In the era of continuous notifications, untimely scrolling, and continuous digital stimulation, the phenomenon of becoming emotionally numb is already linked with the complaints of many individuals, particularly those who are close to their young adulthood. Not sad, not happy–just blank. It is a phenomenon that is becoming known as emotional numbness syndrome and it is slowly redefining how we live.
The human brain could not be made to be stimulated all the time. Emotional processing routes are overwhelmed with short form content, instant gratification, multitasking, and constant dopamine hits. The brain over time gets used to this process of becoming numb when responding to emotions as a defensive mechanism. Things that could have been exciting, meaningful or rewarding start to be dulled.
This condition is further aggravated by chronic stress, sleep deprivation, burnout and digital overload. The nervous system is always in the alert state so there is not much emotional or reflective state. Because of this, individuals are dealing with low levels of empathy, relationships lose their drive, people lose self-involvement in relationships, and they lose pleasure (anhedonia) without being aware of it.
The threat is in the normalization. Being careworn and desensitized so often go unacknowledged as being busy or typical adult life. Not treated, it may lead to anxiety, depression, loss of identity and social withdrawal.
To reverse the given trend, purposeful pauses - less screen time, significant offline time, quality sleep, physical activity, and moments of boredom, where emotions are reappearing, are necessary. Emotional health, as physical one, needs time to rest.
Do you really have any emotional commitment in your life in recent times or have you just become a robot doing it by default?
MBH/PS