31| Tired of Feeling Numb? How Blocking Emotion Keeps You Stuck and 4 Steps to Move Forward
Navigating Toxic Relationships | Christian Relationship Counseling, Loneliness, Divorce, Narcissistic Abuse, Self-EsteemShow Notes
Podcast is now in video format on Youtube! Check it out on myYoutube channel: Navigating Toxic Relationships. Have you ever watched your kids laugh, or heard good news, and felt absolutely nothing? Is the calm you've been calling "peace" actually exhaustion in disguise? What if the reason you can't feel joy anymore is that you've been working so hard not to feel the pain? You've stopped crying. You've stopped arguing. You've stopped hoping. From the outside, it looks like calm. On the inside, it's flat and gray, and you can't find the dial to turn the color back up. In this episode, we're talking about numbness: what it really is, why it shows up when you're exhausted in body, mind, and spirit, and why it's one of the loudest warning signs your heart can send. Drawing on both Christian relationship counseling and a trauma-informed understanding of narcissistic abuse, we explore why you can't shut off pain without also shutting off joy, and how to begin feeling again. We'll talk about:
What numbness actually is: the avoidance, or absence, of feeling, and why it makes sense as a survival strategy Why numbness is dangerous and what it says about your body, mind, and spirit The three jobs of emotion: helping you bond with people, connect with God, and make good decisions The hot stove illustration: why blocking the pain means you keep tolerating the harm Why you cannot block sadness and pain and still feel joy, and how this connects to the deep sadness, loneliness, and lost self-esteem many women feel in toxic relationship patterns What Pixar's Inside Out and Bing Bong can teach us about sadness Four steps to begin feeling again: face what keeps you numb, practice radical honesty, journal, and understand that your emotions are a gift from God Where God meets you in the numbness, with Psalm 34:18 and Ezekiel 36:26
Whether you're setting a boundary, seeking counseling, or even weighing divorce, this episode offers no verdict. It explains why a wise, faith-guided decision is so hard to make when you can't feel what you feel, and gives you permission to start feeling again at a pace that's safe. A note before you listen: This episode is educational, not diagnostic. If your numbness has lasted a long time, or you're struggling with depression, please connect with a licensed therapist or your doctor. If you're having thoughts of not wanting to be here, call or text 988 anytime. CONNECT: Drwendyburchett.com IG: @drwendyburchett Tiktok: @drwendyburchettpsyd Facebook: @drwnedyburchettpsyd
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