Can therapy help individuals who feel desensitized?

Summary: Can Therapy Help People Who Feel Desensitized?

Yes, therapy can help individuals who feel desensitized—emotionally numb, disconnected, or “switched off”—to gradually reconnect with their emotions and the world around them. In this article, I’ll walk you through practical approaches, share a real-world case, and point out the subtle differences between countries when it comes to verifying and standardizing therapeutic outcomes (you’ll see why this matters if you ever move or seek cross-border help). I’ll also include some honest missteps from my own journey, expert commentary, and concrete links for further reading.

Why Emotional Desensitization Happens—and Why It’s Hard to Snap Out of

Let’s get the basics out of the way: feeling desensitized isn’t just “being lazy” or “choosing not to feel.” It’s often a response to chronic stress, trauma, or even burnout—your brain’s way of protecting you from overwhelming emotions. According to the American Psychological Association, emotional numbness is a common symptom in anxiety and PTSD. But—and here’s where it gets tricky—this numbness can linger even when the original problem has faded, making it tough to reconnect no matter how hard you try.

Step-by-Step: How Therapy Tackles Desensitization

Now, let me walk you through the steps. I’ll use my own experience as an example, because trust me, I’ve had my share of “why am I not feeling anything?” moments, especially after a rough year at work. Here’s roughly how therapy can help:

1. Initial Assessment and Psychoeducation
   The first session is usually about sharing what’s going on (or not going on, if you feel nothing). My therapist asked about my sleep, appetite, stress, and when the numbness began. Turns out, sometimes just naming the problem helps. A study in Psychology Today (2022) shows that understanding your symptoms (“psychoeducation”) reduces anxiety about feeling numb.
2. Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT)
   This was a game-changer for me. EFT involves gently exploring what’s underneath the numbness. We did simple exercises, like body scans—paying attention to physical sensations. Sometimes I’d get frustrated (“I feel nothing!”), but with practice, even noticing a tight jaw or restless leg became a victory. The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy explains that EFT helps reconnect people with their emotions by making the process safe and gradual.
3. Mindfulness and Somatic Approaches
   Here’s where it got weird (in a good way). My therapist recommended mindful breathing and grounding exercises. At first, I got distracted—once, I was supposed to focus on my breath but kept thinking about dinner. Over time, though, these exercises helped me slow down and notice fleeting feelings (like a flutter of anxiety before a meeting). The NCBI notes that mindfulness-based approaches can reduce emotional numbness by increasing “interoceptive awareness”—basically, tuning into what’s happening inside your body.
4. CBT and “Behavioral Activation”
   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is the bread and butter of modern therapy, but for desensitization, there’s a twist: “behavioral activation.” My therapist and I made a list of old hobbies and scheduled time for them, even if I didn’t feel like it. The first few attempts were a flop (I tried painting, got bored, abandoned it for Netflix). But after a few weeks, I started enjoying small things again. Meta-analyses like this review from the Cochrane Library (2013) found that behavioral activation can significantly reduce symptoms of emotional numbing in depression.
5. Creative and Expressive Therapies
   Not everyone clicks with talk therapy. Art, music, or movement therapies can bypass “stuck” feelings. I tried guided drawing in a group session (warning: expect messy results). A fellow participant shared how drumming helped her feel alive after years of numbness. The NCBI review on creative arts therapies backs this up—a mix of movement and creativity can reactivate emotional circuits.

A Real-World Example: Anna’s Story

Cross-Border: How “Verified” Therapy Standards Differ Globally

Quick detour: If you travel or move for work, you might notice therapy isn’t standardized everywhere. “Verified trade” is a term more common in international commerce, but in mental health, the equivalent is “validated” or “certified” therapy methods—recognized by health authorities for safety and effectiveness. Here’s a quick comparison:

Country/Region	Standard Name	Legal Basis	Regulatory Body
United States	Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)	SAMHSA Guidelines	SAMHSA, APA
European Union	European Standard EN 16823	CEN Regulations	CEN, EFPA
Japan	Certified Clinical Practice	MHLW Guidelines	Japanese Ministry of Health
Australia	National Practice Standards	Australian Health Regulation	Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency

So, if you see a therapist in the US, they’re likely following SAMHSA or APA guidelines. Head over to the EU, and you get CEN standards. The techniques are similar, but legal recognition, insurance coverage, and even session structure can vary. This is like how WTO’s “verified trade” standards differ by country—see WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement for details.

Simulated Expert Commentary: Dr. Mei Chen, Clinical Psychologist

Practical Takeaways and Tips

• Therapy works best when it’s tailored—don’t give up if the first approach doesn’t click.
• Simple home exercises, like daily check-ins (“How do I feel right now?”), can be surprisingly powerful.
• It’s normal to have setbacks. I once skipped two weeks of journaling and felt like I was “back to square one”—but progress is rarely linear.
• If you change countries or therapists, bring notes or records. Standards and accepted practices can differ.

Conclusion & Next Steps

In summary, therapy can absolutely help people who feel desensitized. Techniques like EFT, mindfulness, and behavioral activation offer practical ways to reawaken those buried emotions—even if it takes a while. International standards for “verified” or “certified” therapy are pretty consistent, but small legal and cultural differences can affect your experience. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t feel “fixed” overnight. If you’re considering therapy for numbness, start with a counselor who uses evidence-based methods and be open about what works (and what doesn’t) for you. If you want to dig deeper, check out the references above or talk to your country’s psychological association.

As for me? I still have my “meh” days, but I’m glad I stuck with the process—even if it sometimes felt like watching paint dry. If you’re struggling, remember: numbness is a signal, not a life sentence.

References

• American Psychological Association: Emotional Numbness
• WTO: Trade Facilitation Agreement
• NCBI: Mindfulness and Emotional Processing
• Cochrane Library: Behavioral Activation for Depression
• International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy: What is EFT?
• Reddit: Feeling Numb and How I Got Through It