For Stoic and Epicurean philosophy, ataraxia corresponds to the ideal of imperturbability which is achieved through dominion over passions and self-control (hence tranquilizing drugs are still defined as ataraxia today). In a philosophical world that contrasted reason and passion, control and emotional cancellation could become a goal to be pursued. In today’s society where everything is fast and overstimulating, the relationship with emotions has changed. Can it happen that you don’t feel emotions? We will try to explore the condition of emotional flattening, its manifestations, causes, possible impacts on people’s lives and possible strategies to deal with it.
Emotional flattening: what is it?
Here is the definition of flattening provided by Galimberti (2018, p.116):
“Affective disorder characterized by a general impoverishment of emotional reactivity which is never adequate to the stimulus. The subject with a flattened affectivity is usually described as monotonous, emotionally dull, devoid of liveliness, insensitive and cold. Those who suffer from flattenedness complain that reality seems foreign to them and consequently their responses seem forced, false and inauthentic”.
Emotions lose intensity, they fade and with them the reactions to situations, relationships, events that would normally produce joy, sadness, anger or fear.
Possible causes of emotional flatness
The causes of this condition, in which emotions lose intensity, resulting in less reactivity at a behavioral level, can be multiple:
- Reactions to traumatic events can lead to phenomena such as numbing (Antonini et al., 2006);
- Chronic stress conditions;
- Psychiatric pathologies of which emotional flattening is one of the symptoms;
- Use of drugs and substances.
It may be useful to clarify that it is not a conscious choice, but a psychosomatic reaction to particular events or conditions, or the symptomatic expression of a particular health condition (depression, psychosis, PTSD).
Emotional flattening and… clinical pictures compared
Emotional flattening therefore belongs to a galaxy of conditions and manifestations that can have a different origin and similar impacts on the intensity of emotional perception and on the following behavioral response. Let’s try to outline the different nuances between emotional flattening, anhedonia, apathy, alexithymia.
Emotional flattening and anhedonia
In emotional flattening they are affected the intensity of emotions And behavioral reactions consequent. Central to anhedonia is the difficulty in experiencing pleasure in situations that normally should generate well-being and satisfaction.
Emotional flatness and apathy
Unlike emotional flattening, where the focus is on the perception of emotions, in apathy the dimensions that appear deficient they are relative to interest and motivation.
Emotional flattening and alexithymia
Alexithymia is a clinical condition that involves difficulty in recognize And describe emotions and therefore does not concern their intensity.
The possible consequences of emotional flattening
What could be the impacts of this limited perception of the intensity of emotional colors? Perceiving stimuli from situations that normally generate anger, fear, sadness, joy as mild or absent has a profound impact on behavior. Let’s analyze the possible consequences of emotional flattening.
The impact of emotional flatness on relationships, the world of work and social dynamics
A person who experiences emotions with less intensity and consequently reacts in ways that are inconsistent with the expectations of family members, partners, friends and colleagues is often judged, criticized and accused. Misunderstandings are easily created and relational distance can increase. Faced with these attitudes, the person will feel little understood and may choose to isolate themselves with an impact on their mood.
He may also begin to experience social occasions as a source of anxiety and worry. In the workplace, motivation, attention and effectiveness could decrease. For this reason, frank communication about the actual intensity of what one feels, about the shade of color that embraces one’s emotional gaze, can encourage the opening of spaces for dialogue and discussion free of judgment and criticism.
How to deal with emotional flatness?
An important first step is to recognize the condition you are experiencing. In the event that you perceive a significant difference in the intensity of what you feel following particular situations, a bit like if you were unable to grasp all the colors in front of a painting, you can consider the possibility of contacting a professional psychologist or psychotherapist for advice. The beginning of a psychological support process can be a precious tool, even more so if you have just recently suffered a traumatic event, if you are experiencing a period of chronic stress, if you have experienced a significant deflection in your mood, or if you suffer from anxious activation.
In some cases it may also be useful to consult your GP or a specialist to evaluate the opportunity for adequate pharmacological therapy (especially if the emotional flatness is a symptom of another health condition). In dealing with conditions of emotional flattening, the following can be particularly useful:
- social support with the possibility of being able to count on a network of friends, family and colleagues capable of listening and understanding the condition;
- a path of reflection, analysis and awareness about one’s emotional experiences to make space for emotions;
- the promotion of communication and listening strategies based on empathy, dialogue and suspension of judgement.
Emotional flattening and psychological support
The activation of psychological support can be a useful tool in order to create a judgment-free listening space where the person can feel understood and free to explore their emotional condition. By recognizing the presence of a flattened emotionality, it will be possible to outline management paths useful for highlighting the causes of the decrease in intensity in feeling and the strategies for modifying dysfunctional thoughts and behaviors.
The relationship with our emotions has been addressed by Religion and Philosophy since ancient times. We have always been fascinated by how our internal state changes in response to external stimuli, influencing our behavioral response. We have often convinced ourselves and educated ourselves to think that emotions are something to struggle with in order to have full control. The emotional heritage, in all its nuances, represents a precious treasure indispensable to fully paint the canvas of our existence. Due to traumatic or stressful events, pathologies or defensive needs, it may happen that the intensity of emotions is perceived as lower or absent. In the event that this condition, which is in no case a choice, persists over time, the beginning of a path of psychological support or psychotherapy represents a valid tool to regain the possibility of observing all the emotional nuances of life.
