I’ve Gone Numb — Can Therapy and Medication Help?

Photo by Kema Keur - http://flic.kr/p/8HL66 - For illustration only

Reader’s Question

Lately, I have gotten to the point where nothing seems to affect me. I feel just completely “numb” to any kind of affection or advances from others. I will admit that I’ve been hurt in many previous relationships, which I’m sure is a factor in my problems. But lately, I’ve become extremely edgy. I keep thinking through scenarios of the best way to kill myself, and it scares me. I just lost my sister in 2008. She was murdered, so I’m sure that’s got something to do with it as well. I’ve also got issues related to the rape/molestation and beating from my father from the time I was three until I was eight. Sometimes, I can be just fine, but then all of a sudden I just want to cry for no reason and then that makes me angry because I don’t know what’s got me so upset.

People can say things to me that meant absolutely nothing bad, and I will just go off on them because for some reason it has sparked something in me that makes me extremely upset. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I brought it up to my mom that I might need to go see if I’m bipolar or manic-depressive, and she told me that nothing is wrong and I need to get over it and that I’m making myself think that something is wrong with me.

But she doesn’t see what happens to me when I’m in these funks of mine. I don’t live with her, so she doesn’t really know what I’m talking about. So I thought I’d ask this site and see what I should do from here. Would medication and therapy help me?

Psychologist’s Reply

Q: You mention several things that are not really subject to much debate:

  • You state that you have contemplated self-harm and that such thinking has unnerved you.
  • You state that you have times where you just feel like crying and don’t understand why.
  • You mention that you have become emotionally “numb.”
  • You report a history of trauma.

All of the things you report strongly suggest that you are experiencing various types of psychological distress for which therapy and/or medication is most appropriate. Sometimes, medication is necessary to help stabilize a person’s mood and to help ensure that their mental state does not lead them to engage in high-risk behaviors. Most of the time, however, medication alone is not the long-term solution.

Talk to a Psychiatrist or Therapist Online
(Please read our important explanation below.)

It’s not all that uncommon for denial to block folks’ (including family members’) insight into the need for mental health intervention. So, it’s important that you assert your need for the appropriate professional intervention. If you are still in school, a counselor there might be a good point of first contact with a mental health professional. If you are an adult, there are a number of options open to you, and you might want to contact your local mental health center for a referral.

Please read our Important Disclaimer.

All clinical material on this site is peer reviewed by one or more clinical psychologists or other qualified mental health professionals. Originally published by on and last reviewed or updated by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on .

Ask the Psychologist provides direct access to qualified clinical psychologists ready to answer your questions. It is overseen by the same international advisory board of distinguished academic faculty and mental health professionals — with decades of clinical and research experience in the US, UK and Europe — that delivers CounsellingResource.com, providing peer-reviewed mental health information you can trust. Our material is not intended as a substitute for direct consultation with a qualified mental health professional. CounsellingResource.com is accredited by the Health on the Net Foundation.

Copyright © 2024.