What makes people feel empty

He is currently receiving funding from the Scottish Government for a project on the psychosocial determinants of non-fatal overdose among people who use drugs. Shona Joyce Herron does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. We began asking the people we interviewed whether they had ever felt this way.

This began a four-year project which involved listening to the perspectives of more than people. Our research has allowed us to provide the first ever definition of emptiness based on the descriptions of people who experienced it first hand. This has not only shown the importance of this feeling, but also makes future research possible.

We spoke to more than people aged 18 to 80 who had reported feeling empty at some point in their lives — some rarely, some all the time. We asked them to complete an online survey where they described what it was like to feel this way. This resulted in hundreds of emotive, first-hand accounts. Just trying to fill in the time until you die. Or, you might feel bored most of the time and think nothing matters. It's like an emotional numbness that you can't shake. Feeling emptiness can be scary.

For some people, emptiness is a chronic feeling. You have a hard time for many years feeling anything. You may feel detached from your life and have the sense that something is missing.

There's a void that can't be filled. This experience can happen to people who seem to have everything together: a healthy family, a good job, and a busy social life. Emotional numbness isn't exclusive to those who are missing these life achievements.

That's because emptiness does not come from outside; it comes from within, and it can affect every aspect of your life. It is important to understand where feelings come from, and you may be able to take steps to realize the root of the issue. If you can't find some means of addressing the issue, you may try to fill the void with unhealthy choices that don't necessarily address the problem.

If you find yourself turning to food, alcohol, or drugs for comfort, you may be coping with this emptiness in other ways.

The same is true of mindless pursuits like spending your time binge-watching television. These activities are likely to increase your feelings of dissatisfaction with your life, even if they feel good for a fleeting moment. Instead of distracting yourself from feeling empty, try some of the steps outlined below.

Write your emotions and thoughts in a journal. You may not understand what's going on in your mind and why you're feeling a particular way. Begin journaling about things that happened throughout your day, helping you combat feeling empty.

Once you establish this routine, take time to not just write down events that happen but assess each event as well. By assessing each situation, you can determine if each event is positive or negative and ask yourself how you should feel and respond to the things that happen. Writing your emotions can be a gateway to help you process what's going on inside yourself. Many people who are not feeling deep meaning in their life might feel this way since they have subconsciously "turned off" their emotions.

They might have reached a point where their emotions become overwhelming and caused them anxiety. The first thing you can do after acknowledging this numbness towards emotions is to start reconnecting with your emotions; allow yourself to feel again.

Your emotions may come out inappropriately at first, such as sadness being expressed through anger, but remember no emotions are wrong or bad, as long as you continue making an effort to recognize them and grow. Right now, you may not feel like doing your usual hobbies or rituals, but you should try to do them anyway. This is a part of taking care of yourself. Pay attention to how you feel when you are doing these things.

You may be able to connect with some of the joy or peace you used to feel, or you may find that it is time to replace this activity with something else. Either way, doing things that are just for you can establish self-love and reconnection to your emotions, which can combat feeling empty. Not sure where to begin with a skin care routine? Join the crowd. The sea of products with big promises and unpronounceable ingredients can make it….

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