A–Z Glossary

Emotional numbness

Reduced emotional availability or feelings of numbness and detachment from a child, sometimes used as a way to conserve depleted energy.

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Search results for: Emotional numbness

Anxiety and emotional challenges after IVF pregnancy

Anxiety and emotional challenges after IVF pregnancy

Why IVF pregnancy can feel emotionally fragile A pregnancy achieved through IVF often begins after a long period of treatment-related pressure. Many people have already experienced losses, failed cycles, invasive procedures, or the emotional strain of the two-week wait after embryo transfer. By the time a pregnancy is confirmed, the body may be pregnant but […]

Feeling disconnected and how to seek help for depression

Feeling disconnected and how to seek help for depression

What feeling disconnected can mean in pregnancy Feeling disconnected is not one single symptom. For some people, it is primarily social: they feel left out, unsupported, or unable to trust that anyone understands what they are going through. For others, it is internal: they feel emotionally numb, as if their feelings are behind glass, or […]

Feeling disconnected or shocked

Feeling disconnected or shocked

What feeling disconnected or shocked can mean People use the word shock in different ways. Immediately after an event, shock may describe an acute stress response: heightened arousal, trembling, emotional flattening, difficulty concentrating, nausea, or a strong sense that what happened cannot be real. In the days or weeks following birth, the nervous system may […]

How to recover from burnout parenting

How to recover from burnout parenting

Recognize burnout without blaming yourself Burnout parenting often develops progressively. At first, you may notice irritability, reduced patience, or dread before routine caregiving tasks. Over time, the exhaustion can become more pervasive: waking unrefreshed, feeling emotionally numb, avoiding interaction, or thinking “I cannot do this anymore.” Research describes parental burnout as a condition involving overwhelming […]

Signs and causes of parenting burnout

Signs and causes of parenting burnout

What parenting burnout means Parenting involves repetitive demands on attention, executive function, emotional regulation, and physical stamina. Many parents experience temporary fatigue, frustration, or overstimulation. Parenting burnout is different because it is persistent, role-specific, and often accompanied by a sense that the caregiver has been depleted past their ability to recover with ordinary rest. Research […]

Parent burnout explained

Parent burnout explained

What is parent burnout? Parent burnout, also called parental burnout, is commonly described as a stress-related syndrome resulting from chronic exposure to overwhelming parenting demands. Research literature characterizes it as a progressive condition: parents may begin with persistent stress and fatigue, then gradually develop deeper exhaustion, emotional distancing, and a painful contrast between the parent […]