Is it normal to feel empty?

it's true that emotions make life exciting and "special," but the truth is you're probably luckier than you realize. you're obivously intelligent and logical. some people in your position would be "falling" for this dude and freaking out about having to move to a college campus and whatnot...you're beyond that and in my opinion, you've just reached real adulthood already.

I think you may be depressed...and even if you think its futile/useless/annoying to open up to someone..you have to talk to a professional. They can help you break down the walls you have created.

Life isn't fun if you spend all your time watching it go by. You will miss so much if you can't feel raw emotions. The fact that you opened up here is a good start. It means not all of your ability to feel is blocked.

I wish you luck and true happiness.

If I could write how I feel this would be it...

My mother passed away of breast cancer when I was 10. My father was an alcholahlic and honestly treated me like shit..Never really had much, and never really expected much. Had no one to open up to when I was younger, and thats why I don't bother getting my emotions invovled..

It just seems counterproductive for me now and like you say empty...

I think it could be normal and also alarming at the same time.
I think you should try and go deeper.
Maybe you're afraid of something.
(I am sure you are. We all are)

I don't think you're just "a logical, rational being" or "reached real adulthood already", as other users suggested.

Mainly, because of what you said, first.
There was "stuff" since you were young and then you felt like shutting yourself down, somewhat.
Because of the fact that you seemed to be happier, open-minded (or call it whatever) earlier on at one stage in your lifetime, I believe you owe it to yourself to :

-dig deeper as I said
-try to figure out your greatest fear
-overcome your fear

I really believe that is the point when you will "feel" again because you will recognize that you're not killed by fear but being pushed forward into a greater, more intense and moving life ( you moving and others moved and inspired by what you do) and that's also the point when you:

-set goals to yourself
-develop your standards
-create expectations
-indulge your dreams
-look forward to every single day of your life

and when you look forward to every single day of your life (I call it the LOFTESDOYL-state-of-mind , haha yup i just made that up) then you do cry when you accomplish your goal, you do jump fistpumping in the air, screaming and laughing at the same time and YES you ARE giggling like a child, because, honestly, we should never ever grow up.

I really hope this helped.

Sorry for any misspellings, I am not from the USA.

Enjoy your day!

It's pretty common to go a bit numb when emotions get the better of you through very hard times. It's a way to avoid pain, anger, and so on....you've likely been overwhelmed.

Like follow_me_down said, talk to a professional - I think you need to learn skills in processing those old emotions so you can experience the ones you feel now.

I've sooo been there. You'll be fine in your own time. Keep your chin up! But if you need to cry it out that's ok too!