Feeling Empty? Strategies For Improved Mental Health
Feeling cut off from people, missing a sense of direction, or feeling as though you don’t have a meaningful life may all contribute to a sense of hollowness and emptiness within you. This emotion may also manifest as a lack of fulfillment in your relationships or profession. Ignoring or suppressing these feelings can lead some people to use unhelpful coping strategies like substance misuse (sometimes incorrectly referred to as “substance abuse”) or self-destructive activities. If you have thought, “I feel empty,” you are not alone; feeling empty is a common human experience, and there are ways to overcome it.
Why am I feeling empty?
The sensation of emptiness has a wide range of potential causes, typically resulting from several elements working together. If it feels like something is missing in your life, it may be that you’re experiencing loneliness, searching for purpose, or struggling to connect with loved ones.
Common life events that could lead someone to feel empty include:
- The death of a loved one
- A demanding job
- Unrequited love
- Relationship problems
These experiences may cause you to feel numb or sad, which can add to a sense of emptiness. To try to properly handle these emotions, it may help to explore any underlying causes. This exploration might entail self-reflection, such as journaling or confiding in close friends about your thoughts and feelings. You might also speak with a licensed online therapist to hone in on the precise reason for the empty sensation and to develop a solution together.
Finding meaning and purpose in life
Searching for meaning and purpose in life may help with overcoming a sense of emptiness. One can potentially find meaning through participating in enjoyable and fulfilling pursuits like hobbies or sports. By pursuing a new hobby or interest, you might obtain a sense of achievement and have something to look forward to. Volunteering or giving back to the community may also be beneficial since it can offer direction and community. By adding activities to your daily life, you might be able to lessen some of your sense of emptiness while you continue to explore potential underlying causes.
Building and maintaining positive relationships
Creating and maintaining positive relationships can be an effective way to combat negative feelings of emptiness. Relationships, whether with family members, friends, partners, or children, often give us a sense of community, emotional support, and connection when we face challenges or difficult times. Establishing boundaries and engaging in healthy communication may help to create and sustain satisfying relationships with loved ones. These boundaries might involve setting firm limits yet remaining open to new relationships and experiences.
Sometimes, it can be easy to lose touch with people who were previously a large part of your life. Isolating oneself can be a common symptom of feeling empty, and some relationships may lapse as a result. It can be beneficial to reach out to people you used to be close with, taking the time to explain your situation and rebuild your relationship.
Practicing self-care
In addition, finding ways to relax and have fun might be beneficial in managing your mental health and giving yourself a break. There are many strategies to employ when you feel sad or empty. You can try multiple strategies to see what works for you.
Overcoming empty feelings with a mental health provider
It can be common to experience a sense of hopelessness in your pursuit of emotional stability, but it's important to remember that progress may come in the form of small successes that add up over time. Regularly reflecting on how far you have come in overcoming the sense of emptiness may help motivate you and encourage further progress. You might feel more connected to people or activities, notice a decreased stress level, believe that you have a healthier body, or have an increased sense of purpose.
Additionally, a mental health professional can help you foster emotional wellness and reclaim a fulfilling life.
Online therapy can help when you’re feeling empty
Online therapy might be a helpful tool if you are feeling off or experiencing a sense of emptiness. It's also possible that your feelings are the symptoms of a mental health condition. Many symptoms can go overlooked or ignored without treatment, and you may benefit from seeking out the help of a professional mental health provider in the following ways:
- Professional help provided by a therapist can offer a safe and encouraging environment that allows you to investigate the underlying causes of your emotions
- You and your therapist can work together to develop strategies to maximize your fulfillment
- Your therapist can assist you in creating and maintaining positive relationships through effective communication and boundary-setting
- Therapy can be an effective resource in treating a mental health condition like depression or anxiety, which may be contributing to a feeling of emptiness
Effectiveness of online therapy for mental health concerns
If you don’t feel comfortable going to a therapist’s office at this point, you might try online therapy. Research has demonstrated the efficacy of online therapy in treating various mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression. Additionally, online therapy enables individuals to receive mental health care without needing to attend physical visits, and provides a convenient and safe platform for therapeutic sessions. With a platform like BetterHelp, you can discuss your feelings with a licensed therapist via audio or video chat, and you can contact them via in-app messaging in between sessions if you have questions or concerns.
Takeaway
If you are feeling empty, know that you don't have to navigate this feeling alone. Aside from the strategies mentioned above, online therapy may help you find more purpose and fulfillment in life. With BetterHelp, you can be matched with a licensed therapist who has experience helping people explore feelings of emptiness or dissatisfaction. These therapists may be able to help you learn to cope with depression, anxiety, or another mental illness you could be experiencing. Take the first step to reclaim a sense of fulfillment in life and reach out to BetterHelp today.
Frequently asked questions
Read more below for answers to questions commonly asked about this topic.
What does it mean for a person to feel empty?
Feeling empty can indicate grief, sadness, exhaustion, or loneliness. It’s not uncommon to feel this way after a loss, a breakup, unemployment, a serious diagnosis, or another sad or difficult situation. Note, however, that this feeling can also be the result of a mental health condition like depression. A therapist may be able to help you identify why you’re feeling numb or empty and find ways to connect to yourself and your emotions again.
What does emptiness feel like physically?
Emptiness in adults can feel like fatigue or exhaustion and the sensation of being drained. It may also manifest as lethargy and a lack of motivation. Your body may feel heavy and slow.
What do I feel when I’m feeling empty?
Figuring out what to do when you feel nothing can depend on the cause. If you feel this way as a result of grief, a breakup, conflict with parents, families, or friends, or another specific event, it can be helpful to engage in the process of self-care as best you can and lean on others for support as you navigate this period of life. If you don’t have a specific cause to point to, feeling nothing could be a sign of a mental health condition like depression. It’s generally recommended that you seek out a mental health professional if you’ve noticed signs of a mental health condition in yourself or are otherwise looking for emotional support.
Is feeling empty okay?
It’s okay to feel empty or drained from time to time. Life can be stressful and challenging, and judging yourself for feeling the effects of a difficult or exhausting period is likely to only make you feel worse than if you accept this period with compassion and understanding. However, if feelings of emptiness are persistent and come to cause trouble in your daily life, they could be a sign of an underlying condition like depression. Seeking professional support in this case is recommended.
How do you know if you are experiencing emptiness?
Feelings of emptiness can manifest as fatigue, lethargy, and a lack of interest in activities once enjoyed. You might have trouble sleeping or sleep too much, and your body may feel heavy and slow. If you’re experiencing these symptoms for two weeks or more, they could potentially indicate depression. Meeting with a doctor or therapist for evaluation and diagnosis in this case is usually the recommended course of action. Seeking professional help for your child or encouraging your partner, friend, or family member to get help if they are experiencing this kind of persistent feeling is also recommended.
What are empty feelings?
Emptiness can refer to a feeling of disconnection with yourself. It can result in feeling uninterested in the world around you and unable to get the motivation to do much of anything. It can be temporary as the result of grief, a breakup, or another difficult emotional situation, or it can be a sign of a mental health condition like depression.
What are the types of emptiness?
Emptiness can be a temporary emotional response to a difficult situation, such as loss, a breakup, or disappointment. It can also be a symptom of a mental illness like depression, which will generally not resolve on its own without professional treatment.
Is feeling empty the same as feeling lonely?
Feeling empty is generally not the same as feeling lonely, but the two can coexist and/or exacerbate each other. Loneliness could feel like being full of emotions and thoughts that you’d like to discuss with someone, while emptiness could feel like an absence of strong emotions, thoughts, or desires.
Why does my head feel empty?
It’s not uncommon to feel empty when exhausted or drained, such as from a long day, insufficient sleep, or difficult emotions like grief. It’s also possible for emptiness to be a sign of a mental health condition like depression.
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