Numbing for Survival

Here’s the truth: we all numb. Scrolling until your thumb cramps, raiding the fridge even when you’re not hungry, bingeing shows until your eyes cross. Numbing isn’t weakness—it’s survival. It’s your brain’s way of saying, “I can’t carry this much pain at full volume.”

The problem isn’t numbing itself. It’s staying there. Because when you stay numb too long, you stop living. You lose the chance to actually process, heal, and move forward.

Instead of judging yourself for numbing, try curiosity. Ask: what was I trying to protect myself from? What pain felt too big to face head-on? That simple question shifts you from shame to self-understanding.

Then comes the pivot: swap numbing for nourishing. Instead of zoning out, try zoning in—walk, stretch, breathe, write, call a friend who makes you belly laugh. It doesn’t mean you’ll never numb again, but it means you’ll have more tools in your survival kit.

Numbing gets you through. Nourishing gets you beyond. And you deserve beyond.