Zoya, I'll pin this. Thank you so much.

Thank you!

@@drdavidmaloneypsychotherapy Do you get tingling sensations / face / throat whilst healing from dissociation?

​@@khushmakwana6016Psych meds cause emotional numbness

Really appreciate your sharing Zaur. I'm going to focus on this issue more in future as so many people experience it.

@@drdavidmaloneypsychotherapy Would be really nice to hear more tips and methods about how we can escape this condition.

@@zaurgamkrelidze1463 Drop medication If you are using it

@@breatheeasily4013 haven't used any meds so far, thanks for the advice!

The worst is that nobody from our environments can understand what we're going through. I just can't explain it even to my therapist i'm just faking happiness. I cry and i don't feel anything. I don't even feel attraction to other people, i don't even want to be in a relationship because i won't be able to feel love and be myself. No words can describe this awful situation but i'm sure one day everything will be ok...

Thank you so much for sharing. It means the world to me that what I put out has a positive impact, and your feedback is greatly appreciated 🙏🙏

I could’ve written that. Best.

Been fighting this for along time!! Never stop fighting!

I empathize. It really is a difficult thing to experience.

this is a very good way to describe it

Trust what you need to do. Everyone is unique in healing I have found.

@Mehmet Tan really it is possible to feel again , just do one thing get out of your comfort zone & face your fears throw your self in uncomfortable situations then u will feel bad & when the bad feeling comes don't resist it accept it & then u will start feeling good

Do you know why you became numb? And are you progressing, wish you all the best

I think boundaries become more important as we learn about this. I can relate.

Prison is a brick boundary. Be careful.

Any improvements made last year? Cause I have the same thing.

Great 🙏

Easier said than done.

Yeah, we definitely normalize the experience. With time, there is a softening to it as we start to gradually feel safe enough to emote again.

I agree i can mimic emotions and feel them partially and i use them accordingly. Emotion numb helps a lot to deal with stressful or dangerous situations with calm of mind, been there

This is exactly my situation. I know I'm losing my time, I wasting my talents, ambitions, goals, chances for a good relationship. It's like being dead inside.

Yes, in fear we dissociate from self, emotions, actually to protect ourselves from pain. Yet, as you begin to sit steady and watch and acknowledge it all, without condemning self, life, events, those around, without judging, blaming anything.... you will come to address what in you needs kind attention and acceptance. Until then, suffering is likely, maybe temporary respites. The way to heal opens with the observation of way we feel. Take care.

I have almost always been sensitive and alive to beauty ( except for a phase after death of someone dear), most art forms, music, nature, children.... best alone. I couldn't work unless i love it. It's in presence of others that I d mask, watch from behind, and not open up as i am....fear of abandonment, rejection... which I see/ understand now. My deep hesitation, inauthenticity has been in relationship.... and the greatest need has been to belong. How contrasting we live!!

How do you feel now, almost a year later? Has it gotten better?

You are not alone friend. Hope it gets better for you. Just have to put in the work, but the hardest part is realizing that you actually have work to do…

Matthew, thank you sincerely for sharing this. I think it will help anyone who reads it. There is always hope and it's essential that we share a message of hope with others. None of us are alone in this and, when we hold the desire to heal, it is simply a matter of time 🙏

How long were you numb for and how did it ever dawn on you that the root of your numbness was suppressed anxiety? Even more so curious to know how does one suppress anxiety? I'm just wondering because I also have numbness due to a lot of trauma that I've been through. I was inspired after reading your story. Would love to hear some of your insight if you wouldn't mind.

I wonder if this is more pervasive than we know. I suspect we all have pockets of this. I think of all the incidents in school where teachers said things and we just had to grin and bear it even though it hurt deeply. It has always been weird to me that humans can create systems that are illogical and unnatural to humans. How in the world does this come about?

How u solved it please reply

​emu1028 how are you now , i hope you've recovered from it

So nice to hear. Really appreciate it 🤍

I get to understand myself more. Thank you Dr. David

I know how it feels Zoya.

What a thoughtful and genuine comment. Thanks you sincerely and I wish you well as you move through the healing process 🙏

How are you coping? Tips??

@@jamesb.hallmd9899 I absorb life force energy daily. This openes the mind body connection through vagus nerve. I have befriended anger as a signal to look into so i can understand when my boundries are crossed. Made a decision i speak my mind no matter what. I allow negative emotions without making myself guilty for them. That was the biggest one. I dont know if that is coping. I made an intention to get through to my emotional truth and get in touch with myself at all costs and that means allowing ourselves the entire range of emotions. I realized what blocks emotions is guilt. During my childhood adult problems were so severe that there was no one to take care of my needs. And i felt like i had no rights to ask for anything with all the issues and poverty. I felt powerless to help as a child and powerless to ask for my needs to the extent i wouldnt even become aware of them. For me it was important to learn what emotional and physicial needs we have as humans and with that my mind started to recognize when i have one and then i make sure to attend it or even ask for help from others because that was another big one. I would never ask anyone to help me with anything. It felt like i was all alone in the world. Once i realized when i as a child thought it wasnt appropriate to mention i need something then it started to change. All of this is about recognizing a pattern of behavior and our motives behind it. I also realized its not so much what i think about but how my body feels. This we need to practice. So many ppl now are dissconnected from themselves for simply not paying attention to how the body feels. So while we are healing its more impprtant to pay attention to the body and have that navigate us, rather then what we can figure out with pure logic. There is a lot of bottled up emotions and deviant beliefs about life and we need to question them all to get to the bottom of our truth. It is better to release through crying or screaming our lungs out somewhere than to overthink. Our body can hold suppressed energy making it hard to the mind to work clearly. It would take extra energy to stay normal. So its best to just recognize what the urge of the body is. This is a process. I dooesnt happen over night if you have the same issues, but life force energy is essential because we are without much energy left if emotional numbness is the case. The way i do this is through process called einstellen. This energy is something you will feel in your body like a current. Dont be afraid of feelings and never forget its not your fault. Maybe you had a time in your childhood where you felt powerless to help. This can cause a lot of guilt and block feeling anything that opposes that including anger, sadness etc. But if youre not in touch with emotions and even if you feel guilt it turns into overthinking. The life force energy doesnt cost money. I can give you a link but i dont knoe if the creator of the content would have a problem. Look up A Path to a healthy body and Soul - information lecture about Bruno Groening. There you will find the information on how you do it.

So glad the insights are helping. Of course there is nothing broken within you. Nothing that some support and understanding wouldn't help. True for us all I feel.

I'm so happy the video resonated Cheryl. Glad to be of some help in this for you.

How are you doing now ? Any improvement?

@@LilyStultz actually, yes! Thanks for asking. I'll try to pay attention to see if the frequency has decreased, but what has improved is my acceptance of it so that it's not distressing to experience it. And I think the intensity of them is lessened when they do occur.

@@cherylmockotr is it chronic or are they episodes?

@@LilyStultz pretty chronic, such that I don't notice I'm doing it most of the time. I'm in it right now because I'm just sitting here surfing KZfaq :-) By asking, you've made me want to reach this video. I'll report back...

Don't lose hope. A full range of emotion will return when the nervous system feels safe to allow it. Start to see the numbness as, not a void, but something in its own right. Something that should be respected and given attention and care. You 're not alone in this and healing is possible.

how are u now?? u still feel numb emotionally? i feel the same

Check your vitamin D as you said in October you had more bad depression in that month weather get cold slowly and it can be because of vitamin D deficiency

Why are you pushing yourself so hard? What are you thinking it will give you in return?

Do you feel tiredness?

Update: I'm feeling super strong right now, I'm eating 6 meal's every day, finally I'm with a person who can understand me and I can be myself. I just feeling healthy in my mind and body. I'm feeling really good and to be honest guy's sex really helps to manage stress and you know I'm feeling very calm and everything is more clear now. Finally I'm FEELING something 🙏🏻

You are so welcome. Thank you 🙏

Self-empowerment 🙏

I'll be 58 shortly. Unfortunately my mother is still alive. To say she's stolen my joy would be an understatement but I finally got it back and so can you. They get worse with age. She's a covert narcissist. I've gone no contact before and this is my last time. It will be a year December 30th. There's no going back and life has never been better.

How are you doing now?

@@avertingapathy3052 Fantastic! My mother's hate and abuse is now my inspiration, I want nothing but the best for her. I'm constantly working toward my goals and I'm enjoying life in a way I've never felt before or knew possible through nothing but will, love and effort. I'm ready to inspire the future through game design using my interest in psychology and philosophy. Just a few days ago I got my certificate in Unreal Engine blueprinting and I can't wait to join Dr. Maloney in healing the world using my darkness as a tool for the greater good of all life through empathy! My mother might even choose good when she sees what I made.. I share Dr. Maloney with everyone who asks how I got so much better and I suggest the same to them! I believe in your ability to overcome! I'm with you, we're all one 💙

Underneath boredom, I've usually found a belief saying "what's the point?" It's quite often this belief that needs to be examined. Thanks so much for sharing 🙏

Hope the video gave some pointers Elizabeth 🙏

Ive been doing EMDR and integrated psychotherapy with trauma therapist for over 2 years severe cptsd, have built safety with them and animals few friends things seemed to be improving a bit using somatic exercises, singing, breathwork, very trauma informed but I feel more numb, I am talking to the therapist about it but I feel shutdown and protective against more loss, loss has been a huge theme. I feel nothing and too much at the same time. I feel like the dissociation that protected me is wasting so much of my time. Friends and family don't understand I try not to seem miserable. It is very lonely thank you I will try your hearing with it suggestion

Thanks so much 🙏

I will. Thanks so much!

Thank you Dawn 🙏

Happy it helped clarify the issue Faiza.

Thank you Margot!

Glad it was helpful! Thanks Tanya.

Vitally important to remember 🙏

Very welcome and thank you.

You are so welcome!

Thanks so much for the feedback ✌

Lovely to hear. Thank you Jennifer 🙏

Thank you Kevin. It's the most direct and helpful aspect to healing that I have found. So glad to hear this.

Glad it was helpful Dan!

Wow, thank you Nathan. I will do my absolute best. Appreciate the kind words 🙏

Thank you 🙏

Thank you Paula. You're very welcome and I appreciate for your comment.

Very welcome 🙏

Thanks my friend.

Thanks so much Ben. Lovely to hear this 🙏

You're so welcome!

Glad it was helpful!

You are most welcome. Thank you!

Very welcome :)

So nice of you. Thanks for the feedback.

That's very beautiful. Thanks for sharing from an open heart ❤️

So glad the video has been helpful 🙏

Well done on the commitment you've made. Little by little, the defensive posture of the Nervous System relaxes, allowing us to feel safely. Patience and compassion are our best assets here.

Very welcome indeed Colleen.

Thank you Melody :)

So nice of you 🙏

How are you now?

What a great comment. Thank you for this! My next video may also be of interest as it addresses this issue in a lot of depth. Something I always try to remember is that while we can admit to ourselves that 'something feels wrong' we should not extend that to 'something is wrong with me'. Numbness is a subtle one as we often fail to validate it as we would other emotions. But it's just as valid and worthy of our focus and attention 🙏

I'm so glad to hear this. Thanks for sharing. It's exactly what I feel the approach needs to be 🤍

You are very welcome Caspar. Thank you for sharing.

Hi Shalini. Thank you so much for your feedback! I am thrilled that you are able to validate the experience and see it as something to be acknowledged as legitimate, real, and of value.

I went through a very similar childhood as scapegoat, that just seemed to continue into adulthood Started seeking help of sorts now and again. Later on after trying to single parent, two divorces things pretty much didn't improve. Later on sought regular talk therapy, yet still no better at 65 yrs. Looking into Neurofeedback to start this week, hope it helps. Need to feel joy, have interests and put this numbness to rest!!!

Very happy to hear. Thanks for sharing 🙏

Isiaka, thank you for sharing this story. Given the adversity you've been through, it's little wonder the nervous system has had to adapt as the survivor it is. Take care and keep me posted on your recovery.

You are most certainly not alone I can assure you. Thank you for sharing 🙏

Thank you for sharing Hosamo. Hope the advice points you in the right direction 🙏

Has it helped/ what did you to. This has been me to a T

Love you comment Lee. Maybe think about what was missing for that 9 year old. See if what he wanted can be provided at this point. That's been the journey for many of us.

@@drdavidmaloneypsychotherapy there have been many things but when my dad is in the army and move every 3 years. that was a repetitive cycle. make friends, lose friends. on a 3 year cycle. eat sleep die repeat. then you compound adult issues. deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole we go. but people see the merrit in me. now its my turn. i believe in myself in my head... i just dont feel the belief. i think now is the time to trust in my friends

🙏

You are very welcome my friend. Glad the information was useful.

@@drdavidmaloneypsychotherapy Do you think that a lack of moving/ Body exercising can cause it too because cortisol doesnt brake down?

Thanks for your comment and glad that point resonated 👍

How are you now?

How long is you are like this ? And what happened?

Very welcome Dallas 🙏

Great work. Love to hear feedback like this!

Did you fix it ?

How are u now?

Yeah the emotions are there, we just dont feel them. I have faith I will overcome this.

You're welcome 😊

Great to hear you're on your healing journey now Azza. Nothing is more important. Nothing is more practical. Nothing is more rewarding 🙏

Hey how are you feeling today?

You're very welcome 🙏

Very welcome. I released a short eBook on this last week if you'd like to check it out free: www.drdavidmaloney.com/emotional-needs-ebook

@@drdavidmaloneypsychotherapy I actually read the entire thing just now. I guess the only emotional need that is being met in my life is "reflection" (help lol) I often think that I have no needs at all but that is bullshit isn't it, they are "simply" constantly being surpressed, presumably because I don't believe anyone is going to meet them (consistently, in my experience anyways). It's been so long and I'm really considering medication at this point, even though the cause for this numbness is entirely found in my outside world, or like you say, the "defective" story I told myself a few hundred times..

@@katenka_ana3997 thanks for your feedback. Yes, our story determines how we meet the emotional needs. If we learned from outside that our needs are not important, we internalize this. Our role is to question and see through this narrative. It's not true!