"Consider this. Would you rather live a life filled with ups and downs, joy and sadness, frustrations and pride, and surprise? Or a life that goes along, one day after another, with few disruptions or changes or shake-ups? Choice 1 might seem scary, a little like a roller-coaster ride. On the other hand, Choice 2 might seem a little disappointing."
"Don't get me wrong, they are both mixed bags. The roller-coaster can deliver some shocks to the system, and it can sometimes be hard to feel that you are not in control of everything in your life. If you are living without the emotional disruptions and shake-ups, you may feel "safer" and more in control of things, but you may also find yourself feeling bored and unstimulated."
Emotional numbness reduces the range and intensity of feelings, producing a sense of safety but also emptiness. People can experience major life events without matching emotional responses and feel detached from both joy and pain. Numbing often develops as a coping mechanism after emotional neglect or learning that feelings are burdensome or irrelevant. Habitual disconnection can feel normal and controlled while causing boredom and diminished fulfillment. Emotional engagement, despite ups and downs, tends to provide greater connection and meaning. Reconnecting with feelings in safe ways can restore emotional responsiveness and increase overall life satisfaction.
Read at Psychology Today
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