Feeling of detachment

[dighn]

Does anyone know what might cause a strong sense of detachment? For a few years now I've been feeling this. It seems as if my emotions are almost always in a flatlined state. The things I see and hear I comprehend on a logical level but it's like I have to force myself to be able to emotionally engage them and "feel" something from them. It's like apathy on a more fundamental level. I guess one way of putting it is my emotional senses are always turned off/inward, not focusing on the subject at hand.

Anybody know what I'm talking about? Maybe I'm thinking too much about this

 

[Mik3y]

yea, i know what you're talking about, though i dont experience it. do you have a girlfriend? that might wake up your emotional state.

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: Mik3y
yea, i know what you're talking about, though i dont experience it. do you have a girlfriend? that might wake up your emotional state.

nope. I have a small suspicion that it would, but there are reasons...

 

[cirthix]

emotions will slow you down and make you weak. i also am detached from them.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I have become comfortably numb.

 

[aidanjm]

maybe you should check out this book on chronic discontent, part of which is not experiencing any strong emotions

Book

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: dighn
Does anyone know what might cause a strong sense of detachment? For a few years now I've been feeling this. It seems as if my emotions are almost always in a flatlined state. The things I see and hear I comprehend on a logical level but it's like I have to force myself to be able to emotionally engage them and "feel" something from them. It's like apathy on a more fundamental level. I guess one way of putting it is my emotional senses are always turned off/inward, not focusing on the subject at hand.

Anybody know what I'm talking about? Maybe I'm thinking too much about this

I feel that way all the time. I just assume it's due to the chronic low-grade depression, not to mention the lack of purpose in my life.

 

[Chode Messiah]

not enugh nookie?

 

[dighn]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
maybe you should check out this book on chronic discontent, part of which is not experiencing any strong emotions

Book

hmm... doesn't seem to describe me though. I generally have a postive outlook on things and am usually very optimistic.

You can't be optimistic and depressed at the same time can you?

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: dighn

Originally posted by: aidanjm
maybe you should check out this book on chronic discontent, part of which is not experiencing any strong emotions

Book

hmm... doesn't seem to describe me though. I generally have a postive outlook on things and am usually very optimistic.

You can't be optimistic and depressed at the same time can you?

maybe some people just have a higher threshold for feeling emotions in response to events. most biological and even personality variables occur as a range in the population (e.g., tall/ short, outgoing/ introverted, optimistic/ melancholy, etc), why should our tendency to feel emotions in response to events be any different? maybe you just need much more intense events to evoke a strong emotional reaction? Whereas some people have strong emotions in response to just about anything? I think there is a gender difference in this regard. that book I linked has some interesting exercises for people like this (people with high emotional thresholds) - basically some advice to help get people more tuned in to their emotional states.

 

[Eeezee]

I've been experiencing this myself for quite awhile. It sucks on one level but is great on another. Lack of emotion means more inner strength in some ways and less inner strength in others. Emotions bring us beyond our normal limits, but they can also drag us far below these limits.

Lack of emotion isn't necessarily a bad thing. I find that a good round of drinks gets me feeling happy about myself to that point that I'm laughing like a pirate. Alcohol brings out emotions. At all other times I'm fairly detached though. I think this is a fairly good system unless you're wanting to use your emotions to get something done (since being drunk is not a good state for doing much of anything).

I'm not sure how to get out of the slump. Girlfriend will do it for a short time, but routine sets in eventually and you may go back to this state. I'm not sure of any permanent fix.

 

[dighn]

Yes high threshold makes sense. It's just I don't remember feeling this way before. Maybe I've just never really realized this before. I've always been very rational.

I can't really say this is bad, in fact I kind of like it. But it does give me a very apathetic attitude towards many things which is probably somewhat unhealthy...

 

[cubalis]

your 'optimism' tends to rule out a mood disorder, like dysthymia or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) - but it's not out of the question.

Do you notice a general lack of stimulation? Some people who feel emotionally flat show an increased base activity in the RAS, needing more stimulation to feel deep emotions.

I really don't feel like digging out my books to back this up... but I feel like I should
I've been brainwashed to provide evidence.



Yeah, I think I understand what you're going through - I've been there. I was working full time in a go nowhere job, and just couldn't get emotionally high or low. I ended up going to school, got a BA, and found a lady friend. I am much happier now, and don't 'feel' like I used to.

I am not trying to lump you into a category, just thought I've give you some research material if you're so inclined.

cheers!

 

[Molondo]

Damn volcans i tell you.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: dighn
Yes high threshold makes sense. It's just I don't remember feeling this way before. Maybe I've just never really realized this before. I've always been very rational.

I can't really say this is bad, in fact I kind of like it. But it does give me a very apathetic attitude towards many things which is probably somewhat unhealthy...

the apathy makes me think mood disorder. but not all depression is dramatic and with suicidal tendencies. there are forms of depression which can be very subtle, just a chronic, low grade thing, with people feeling a bit life-less, apathetic, with the edge taken off their emotions. or maybe you are feeling in a bit of a rut with your life, not exactly where you want to be. that could take the edge of things, as well.

 

[Chode Messiah]

Originally posted by: Molondo
Damn volcans i tell you.

they are always to blame tsk tsk.

 

[dighn]

cubalis: lack of stimulation... not too sure really. I mean there are things that I enjoy and do. What is this RAS?

aidanjm: I've always suspected that I have a mild case of something like depression, but it's not a big enough possibility and/or severe enough for me to be concerned with and see a shrink. As for my life, well... my life is pretty good, not exactly where I envisioned it to be all my life, but I am working towards that, in fact that's probably the only thing that gives me a real sense of purpose these days. Perhaps this is the reason...

edit: It sounded like I wanted to be richer or something like that, but what I meant is on a different path from what I wanted. Took a major different from what I always wanted for practicality reasons. Though I think that the current path is not really divergent, or at least I want to think so. I guess this is what truly bothers me.

 

[Excelsior]

Me too.

 

[thirdlegstump]

I have the same problem but it happened ever since I started to "geek out" if you know what I mean. I do have a gf though. I couldn't even cry when I found out my mom had cancer.

 

[0roo0roo]

well i guess its better than feeling everything like they do in the middle east. omfg i'm outraged!! yesterday i was outraged! tomorrow i'll be outraged!!

then again i guess thats also a flatline

 

[Nebor]

I'm a very detached person. I just don't feel much. The way I see it, it makes me better than people who cry all the time and stuff.

Although it's the most awkward thing in the world for me when someone is around me crying. I'm incapable of comforting them. I usually just leave.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I have become comfortably numb.

You are only coming through in waves...

 

[Kilgor]

I've been that way since I was a kid. It's not that I don't feel emotions, I just don't feel the need to react to them or let them run my life.

 

[compuwiz1]

Some depression can do that for you. Also, sitting in front of a computer for hours can have that same effect on me. I believe there are negative ions that computer interaction can bring on.
Also, if you are accustomed to doing the same routines all the time, perhaps, life is just not as exciting as it once was and you are caught up in a redundant cycle, or trap, if you will.

Adrenal fatigue might be another factor, especially if you've gone thru a bout of struggle, stress and things just not working out, no matter how hard you have worked at them.

 

[IFICUDIWUD]

ZOLOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!