Emotions like anger, fear, jealousy, guilt, shame and sadness can be hard to live with. In pursuit of inner peace, you may detach yourself from your emotions with alcohol and drugs. While substance use can temporarily relieve unwelcome feelings, it will ultimately lead to more severe psychological and physical issues.
Warning Signs of Emotional Numbing
Overwhelming emotions that weigh you down may leave you seeking any escape route, even if you know it is self-destructive. The ability to temporarily numb your pain with drinking or drug use may seem appealing, but refusing to confront your problems will cause more harm than good in the long run by exacerbating underlying mental health issues like trauma, anxiety or depression.
Recognizing that you rely on substances to avoid dealing with challenging feelings is crucial for preventing addiction from taking over your life. Here are red flags to be aware of.
- Escapism: Using drugs or alcohol to evade personal issues, stressful situations or escape reality.
- Increased tolerance: Needing more of the substance to achieve the same numbing effect indicates the onset of dependency.
- Emotional flattening: A general lack of ability to feel powerful emotions like excitement, sorrow or stress.
- Withdrawing from social activities: Pulling away from friends, family and social engagements as substance use takes a higher priority in your life.
Problems With Muting Your Emotions Through Substance Use
Numbing yourself with drugs and alcohol can lead to several long-term problems.
- Unresolved emotional issues: By muting your feelings instead of processing them, you fail to address underlying problems, letting them worsen over time.
- Relationship strain: A lack of responsiveness and engagement will ultimately strain relationships with friends and family.
- Increased risk of addiction: Relying on substances as a coping mechanism can quickly lead to addiction, with all its associated health, legal and social consequences.
- Mental health decline: Chronic emotional suppression can lead to severe mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety.
Addressing Emotional Numbing
Breaking the cycle of emotional numbing through substance use takes place in several stages. First, acknowledge that you have a problem, and that using substances as an emotional crutch is harmful and maladaptive. A therapist can work with you to identify why you numb your emotions and suggest healthier coping mechanisms, such as exercise, meditation or hobbies.
PACE Recovery specializes in treating young men’s mental and behavioral health. Our comprehensive approach includes an immersive, evidence-based approach to treating substance use disorder in young adults. Addressing all facets of the disease of addiction and related mental health issues, our approach integrates research and clinical practices from the medical, psychological, social, familial and self-help communities. Emotional numbing through substance use is a significant barrier to your maturity and well-being. Recovering requires you to confront this issue head-on. Clients in our men’s-only program learn how to achieve a healthy, balanced life. Contact our accredited team to learn how we can help you experience the freedom that comes with lasting, purpose-focused sobriety.
