Flat numbness
Shut down
Strength 4 of 4
Closed off completely, with no room to feel, think or respond, as if the body has pulled down the shutters to get through something too much to bear.
In the body
- A frozen, very still body
- Glazed eyes
- Words hard to find or say
- Slow, shallow breathing
Needs behind it
Softer and stronger
Often confused with
Numb
Numb is feeling turned down low while you keep functioning; shut down is a fuller closing of feeling, thought and response, when even speaking is hard.