Normal that i can turn off my emotions?

I've learned to shut down my feelings of heartbreak, pain and sympathy as needed. Its like there is a switch in my psyche that I have learned to switch off at will.

Many years ago I had a girlfriend that I loved more than I loved myself. She slept with my brother behind my back. Later, my youngest brother committed suicide while on the phone with me.

I learned to deal with things like this by turning that switch in my head to the off position. It's like I can separate myself from,things that would really bother most people by simply blocking myself from it. Is this something other people can do? Is it normal or common amongst people who have been through traumatic experiences?

Voting Results
80% Normal
Based on 10 votes (8 yes)
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Comments ( 8 )
  • TerriAngel

    Totally normal.
    Not always a good thing.
    But it is something people can do.
    Some go to far, and do bad things.
    But feel nothing.
    this has happened in every war.
    somethings you have to sort of block, its self preservation.

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  • nikkiclaire

    Yes. It is called compartmentalizing. It's what happens in the brain when we suffer trauma we can't deal with.

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    • So it's considered normal, at least in a self preservation way?

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      • nikkiclaire

        Yes hun. I am sorry you went through all that. But normal doesn't mean healthy. At least not healthy to keep doing it.

        Now that you're aware your brain is protecting you, slowly allow the memories back in and apply them what you feel now that you have some distance.

        If you have to see a professional but its expensive and not nescessary. Just let nature take its course.

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        • Thanks hun.

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  • Yes. I’ve had some traumatic things happen as well and it’s the same. My birth mother dumped me so I don’t really get that close to people. So many pets have died that I don’t cry over it anymore. If I hurt myself by falling, running through blackberry bushes, or deliberately hurting myself I don’t even really feel the physical pain.

    Sometimes I care and sometimes I don’t. I like animals but I’ve also seen people kill or torture animals and it doesn’t really bother me.
    In fact sometimes I kind of like to see their fear and pain.
    The species does matter though. I tend to be more disturbed by dog killings than horse or farm animals.
    It feels like you’re floating lost in space or stopped in one place in time. Like as life goes by you stay in the same place, the same endless loop, cycling over and over again into infinite empty futility.

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    • You really shocked me there when you said you saw people torture animals and you said it doesn't bother you and that you sometimes enjoyed it. I wasn't saying that I don't care about animals or peoples suffering and the such. I was saying that I can turn off a switch in my head that makes me able to distance myself from things that I can't handle seeing or from feelings that are too intense for me to deal with. To not care about torture or, especially, to enjoy it is truly disturbing to me. When I read your comment, I had to hit the switch again. In this case, it was to stop my feeling of disgust. You really need to get help. Turning off a switch is one thing, but enjoying another beings pain is something entirely different.

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      • Thanks. Now my freakness is confirmed. 😞
        “Get help” yeah, I’ve been told that already. But when I seek help, no one helps me. Surprise surprise...
        So what’s the point really?
        I know I’m a disgusting person. But I can’t change that.

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