Is it normal to not feel any emotion at all?

When my depression was untreated I could have written your post - not feeling happy, not feeling sad, just feeling nothing (and wanting to curl up into a ball, hoping that the world would go away).

The good news is that depression can be treated (it is a word, not a life sentence).

Please get in touch with mental health professionals - treatment might involve anti-depressants (from a psychiatrist) and/or talk therapy (from a clinical psychologist). I needed both and my life is now rich and full.

Good luck.

That flat feeling of feeling nothing is a very common symptom of depression, and so is difficulty concentrating, which could explain the memory loss. However, it is best to check with your local GP who may be able to direct you to the right therapy to resolve these concerns.

The good news is that depression and anxiety can be treated. For more information I suggest you have a look at the beyondblue website which contains checklists to help you to identify your symptoms and possible therapies.

You can begin to feel better sooner than you realise with the right assistance.

Yes I also agree. Feeling nothing is a common occurance in people experiencing depression. It sounds like you have been dealing with this issue for some time. It would seem to me that it is impacting on your quality of life. I would recommend that you make the step to see a Psychologist for some support. See you GP for a referral.

I agree wholeheartedly to the suggestion that you should be assessed first by your GP and then discuss a mental Heath care plan with a psychiatrist who will be able to put you on the right medication to start with and start talking therapy if you are open to it.  And no it is not normal not to feel any emotions.  Combined with your memory loss you need to be assessed by the right professional.  It is definitely associated with a chemical imbalance of sorts and needs treatment.  With the right treatment you will be feeling a lot better pretty soon.  Take heart and good on you for asking. 

You are displaying typical symptoms of depression. Seek professional help.

Hi.  I agree with the posts.  

Depression is the most likely cause of the lack of emotions.  In fact one of the classic signs is called Anhedonia - which is an inability to feel pleasure.  Of course we assume this is a new thing and not something you have always had [which could be due to other causes].  Trauma and conditions related can also lead to numbing and anger as mentioned already.

After 4 years of this, lack of concentration and memory problems can follow.  It is important to get this sorted as once treated to Remission, these symptoms will improve.  Having said that some medications can also make people feel a little numb.  

So I agree with the posts so far.  Please see your GP if you haven't already.  If you have and am stuck, ask for a referral to a Psychiatrist for a thorough Assessement and a Psychologist or Counsellor to help assist you.  

Meanwhile lifestyle measures are Complimentary.  Exercise, giving up alcohol and cigarettes and Krill Oil can help boost your brain's recovery.  Sleep is probably the most important.

It is likely that your symptoms can be helped.

Dear, I think you need just new bright moments in your life. It can be diferrent changes, the best one is trevelling to another country and live there a couple of months. Only such changes can improve your emotional conditions and return to usual life.

Dear, I think you need just new bright moments in your life. It can be diferrent changes, the best one is trevelling to another country and live there a couple of months. Only such changes can improve your emotional conditions and return to usual life.

The lack of feeling and reduced memory is very much commonly seen with depression and anxiety. 

It would be good to discuss with your GP, just to have a full check up, look at any medications you are on, and check for interactions.

Websites like beyondblue have good advice for ways of dealing with depression and anxiety, and there are forums where people discuss what has helped in the past. Other options include seeking therapy/ counselling or starting medication.

Best wishes on your future journey.

Hi there,

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear that you have been battling depression for such a long time. Many of the experiences that your describe are common to people experiencing depression, however the your symptoms, specifically the length of time they have endured, suggest that you may be experiencing a disorder known as as dysthymia. This is a chronic depressive disorder. While primarily chronic, people can experience bouts of depressive episodes - i.e. there may be periods where you feel worse, however your 'normal' is usually pretty low.

I would suggest that you get in contact with your GP to make an appointment to see a psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan. Finding a the right psychologist will be important, so make sure that you feel comfortable with a professional.

Warm regards,

Max.

When you say, ‘I find that I have no emotions at all’ It could mean several things. It could represent a feeling of void or emptiness; or loss or grief; it could be a sense of numbness or a place where emotions have shut down to survive due to some traumatic experience amongst others.

In my experience of working with trauma with the clients of the Royal Commission, it’s quite common not to remember or the memories can be very sketchy when we might have been exposed to trauma.

I would encourage you to see a psychologist, so you can start to make sense of what is happening to you and find a way forward. Also, I am sure your daughter and family are concerned for you too.

Naomi Rose

Psychologist and Systemic Couple/Family therapist

https://potentialz.com.au/team-profile/naomi-rose/

I believe you would benefit by an appropriate treatment method to suit you and your needs.  Perhaps to get back in touch with emotions and different feelings.  After all it’s natural to experience emotions.  So when we arrive at a position where we lose touch and disconnect then this may be a sign of repression, post trauma, or other.  Something that can be treated with some new strategies that a therapist can assist you with.  Good luck 

Thank you for sharing and I am so sorry to hear that you are going through this. I wonder if you relate to the feeling of being "numb"? If so, sometimes we "shut down" as a protective mechanism.

Sometimes, its not that we don't want to remember anything, but rather, we might detach ourselves in an affort to keep ourselves safe in some way.

If this is resonating with you, there could be so many reasons for this which I would encourage you to explore In counselling when you are ready.

In the meantime, be kind to yourself. For some people, keeping a journal or diary helps. Take care.