Is It Okay to Feel Numb to Bad News?
When the world feels out of control, here’s how to come back to yourself.
There’s been no shortage of heartbreaking news this summer — natural disasters, political turmoil, a steady drip of things that make you want to throw your phone across the room.
And if you’ve found yourself feeling… weirdly blank… you’re not alone. Many of my clients (and if I’m honest, me too) have described a similar numbness lately.
Not because we don’t care. But because our systems are maxed out.
Let’s say this clearly:
💬 Feeling numb doesn’t mean you’re cold or uncaring.
It’s often a sign that your nervous system is doing its best to protect you from overwhelm.
When stress piles up and feels out of our control, our bodies can shift into survival mode: flattening emotions, zoning out, or hyper-focusing on small things we can control (like fixing the silverware drawer or rewriting a text 6 times).
What Can You Control?
While we may not be able to change what’s happening out there, we can come back to ourselves in small ways.
Here are a few places to start:
1. Limit your inputs.
Give yourself permission to turn off the news. Log off social media. Not every update is urgent — your nervous system deserves quiet.
2. Anchor in routine.
When everything feels shaky, simple daily rituals (like morning coffee, a walk, or even folding laundry with music) help re-ground your body.
3. Breathe on purpose.
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR), slow breathing, or placing a hand on your chest for a minute can interrupt the stress spiral.
4. Let joy coexist with awareness.
You’re allowed to laugh, play, rest, and delight in your life — even when hard things are happening in the world. Caring deeply doesn’t mean you have to collapse.
5. Stay connected to your values.
Ask: What kind of person do I want to be, even in hard times? Your small choices, how you show up for your family, your community, yourself — still matter.
You don’t have to feel everything to still be a caring person.
You’re not ignoring the world — you’re protecting your ability to keep showing up in it.
And that’s something to be proud of.
💛 Want extra support managing stress right now?
I created a free Stress Management Workbook to help you feel less overwhelmed and more grounded — especially when everything feels like too much.
Inside, you’ll find:
✨ Simple, therapist-backed strategies to calm your nervous system
✨ Tools to handle emotional overload without shutting down
✨ Reflection prompts to help you sort through what’s yours to carry — and what’s not
✨ Practical support to feel more in control, even when the world isn’t
Think of it as your reset button when you’re stretched too thin.
