In 1979, the rock band Pink Floyd released the song, Comfortably Numb. The song was popular at that time. It has also been covered by over 14 other bands since then.
The continued playing of the song has given it popularity and longevity through several generations. The song deals with someone becoming numb to stimuli and pain. Sadly, it has turned into the personal anthem of many of you going through painful situations.
When a song like ‘Comfortably Numb’ programs your brain into viewing it as your preferred means of coping, it concerns me. Many of you have picked up the song and taken it as an instruction manual for dealing with trauma.
Rather than face the issues, you choose the numb out option. Life is lived along the thinking of no pain is equated with no problem.
There are many ways of inducing numbness. Self-medicating, cutting, over exercising, overeating, obsessing and cleaning are just a few. When the intention of your behavior is blocking out pain, you are taking steps toward becoming comfortably numb yourself.
Shutting down via numbness is one of the popular ways of dealing with traumas like those associated with affairs. The numbness blocks pain, but that numbness has a price tag.
You missed out on experiences and events that would have helped you feel more alive. You isolated yourself from others when you needed connection with them.
One of the consequences of staying numb too long is that you start listening to your own self-talk and blocking out any other input. Listening to your self-talk is helpful when your thinking straight, but when you’re numb, your brain doesn’t have the input it needs. It functions more as an echo chamber rather than a problem solver.
You may have felt that numbing out was your only option. Now that you’re waking up and looking for answers, I need to tell you that there are other options.
Not only are there other options, they’re healthier than isolating yourself in your numbness.
This is the time you need others instead of pushing them away. You need the encouragement and support that only comes from sharing time with others.
One of the ways of getting past your numbness is with forgiveness. In the video “Forgiveness: Stop the Pain, Tear down the walls and Remove the Roadblocks” gives you instruction in deconstructing the walls you have surrounded yourself with.
Holding onto the pain at this point is only hurting you.
Keeping It Real,
Jeff
