Emotional numbness can be described as feeling desensitized or disconnected from your emotions, your environment or surroundings. In life, there are different events that impact our emotions. Think about birthdays, holidays, large life events, relationship milestones, and losses. When a person experiences emotional numbness, they aren’t reacting to these moments and may well be protecting themselves from feeling them. Emotional numbness can be a defense mechanism, a place we go within our nervous systems to protect us from feeling all these emotions.

Are there certain topics that trigger your anxiety? Is there an environment or atmosphere that consistently overwhelms you? When we take care of ourselves, we need to be aware of places, people and things that cause us to feel badly. This is what ‘protecting your peace’ is all about. Knowing what might bring you down is important in managing your own well-being and emotional health. If you have difficulty protecting your peace, see below for a few tips:

With inclement weather, colder temperatures and the increased desire to stay inside, it can be hard to reach out and stay connected to friends and family. As a result, we may be missing out on essential social interaction. Withdrawal and isolation, particularly during the colder months, can negatively impact both our emotional and physical health. However, with a bit of planning, creativity, and commitment, you can maintain, even strengthen your social connections. See below for four tips on how to remain social and connected during colder times:

As the days grow shorter and temperatures drop, the transition toward winter often brings changes in mood, energy levels and overall well-being. While winter can be a time of holiday cheer and days off work, it can also be a time of darkness, isolation, and sadness. That’s why it's crucial to incorporate self-care into our routines. Here are six practical self-care tips to help you take care of yourself during the winter:

You may, upon occasion, feel a sense of dread towards work, become annoyed with a coworker, or just feel overwhelmed by all your responsibilities. When that happens, and it probably happens to everyone at one time or another, it’s likely the right time to take a mental health day– time to rest and relax, in order to be a more productive and happier, healthier person. Taking care of your mental health is as important as taking care of your physical health. Addressing your mental health is not a luxury, it is a necessity.

Being a caregiver often feels like a full-time job. Whether you are a parent caring for your children, a child caregiving for a family member or an older parent, a teacher, a nurse or a nanny, caregivers are important players who are especially susceptible to burnout. After a while, there might come a point where you hit the wall and the energy, compassion and wherewithal it takes can be seriously depleted. This is where compassion fatigue comes in, and it’s more common than you think. 

You might be familiar with visualization techniques, a very helpful way of managing anxiety and panic. What's really cool about visualization approaches is that they engage the same neural networks as if you were watching the action in real time. Studies have shown that visualization exercises can help regulate emotions, increase feelings of relaxation and reduce physiological stress responses - and the best part is that it’s so easy to do. Here are three visualization techniques to try next time you find yourself in a moment of anxiety or panic:

An important way to boost your mental wellness is by establishing a consistent morning routine. For many people who struggle with mornings or long days, this might sound like a difficult feat. However, by starting your day with intention and positivity, you may set the tone for the remainder of the day. By prioritizing your mental health from the minute you get up, you invest in a happier, healthier self.

At Thrope Therapy, we believe in supporting our clients in every way possible. That's why we've put together this comprehensive list of mental health and personal growth resources to help you on your journey.