Chapter 6 - Numbness

 

The person who experiences all this usually lands into neurotic problems like lower self-esteem, anxiety, and guilt. These conditions become a problem when they are trying to do something good with their life.

Many individuals fall into addictions like alcohol, smoking, drugs, food, gaming, etc. These addictions may help numb the pain initially. They significantly impact the happiness and career of these individuals.

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Numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it - JK Rowling

Life is full of uncomfortable things. When we learn new things, face people we don’t like, and do difficult things, it creates a feeling of discomfort. Man has been building a lifestyle ever since in which he doesn’t have to be uncomfortable.

Whenever we face situations that endanger the comfort status in our minds, we tend to avoid these situations. These situations range from reading up for an exam, going to the gym, and completing an important project.

All such sort of things brings the fear of failure and embarrassment. To avoid feeling this fear, one has to get detached from it. We indulge in entertainment to numb ourselves.

We invented entertainment to derail ourselves from the thoughts of fear, pain, and loneliness. Most people are seen as indulging in watching TV, gaming, alcohol, smoking, or doing something else which kills time.

However, it is easy for others to judge somebody who indulges in all these addictions. The actual need in this situation is to look at the person in pain behind all this.
We are all afraid of doing something which brings us discomfort.

Does this mean that these addictions are natural?

Yes, they are! They are the result of a reflex of the brain to protect itself from difficult situations.

Does it help us?

Yes, initially, but not in the long run.

The person who is indulged in all this draws attention from the problems and wastes much valuable time. This time could have been used to solve the issues.

By utilizing the time, we can do things required and expected of us.

Is it possible to stop wasting time on entertainment to numb pain and fear?

It is difficult to face and solve emotional problems. The normal tendency is to sway away from them and numb the pain.

It is not easy to prevent falling prey to procrastination from feeling pain. Still, it is possible to develop a habit of realizing earlier that you are in the process of procrastination and stopping it when you realize it.

Nobody will be able to do it for you. Any form of engagement in the present moment helps in coming out of it. Exercising, walking, meditating, playing a sport, etc., can help you connect with the present.

I would emphasize certain activities that are specific to the individual. You have been doing these activities out of love and for a long time. In most cases, these things are your hobbies.

If you can manage to get yourself to do these things, they will bring comfort and strength back, and you will gain your confidence back.

Having attained your power back, you can start trying to solve the problem which made you procrastinate. Understanding this problem of coming out of entertainment and procrastination will make you focus more on the problem at hand and work on the problem to solve it.

Doing this will slowly make you stronger and decrease problems in your life.

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