The Different Faces of Emptiness: Part 1

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150680407_88f0218e86_mSince the release of Running on Empty in 2012, many people have identified with the feeling of Empty. People who don’t have it don’t understand. But people who feel it know:

In many ways, emptiness or numbness is worse than pain. Many people have told me that they would far prefer feeling anything to nothing. It is very difficult to acknowledge, make sense of, or put words to something that is absent. Emptiness seems like nothing to most people. And nothing is nothing, neither bad nor good. But in the case of a human being’s internal functioning, nothing is definitely something. Empty is actually a feeling in and of itself. And I have discovered that it is a feeling that can be very intense and powerful. In fact, it has the power to drive people to do extreme things to escape it.

(From Running on Empty: Overcome Your Childhood Emotional Neglect)

Empty is the” unfeeling” feeling. It’s the painful sense that some vital ingredient is missing from inside. Does it feel the same for everyone who has it? For example, does it feel different if you have depression, a personality disorder, or just straight Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN)?  The answer is yes. It all depends on one factor: how extreme were its causes?

Causes of Emptiness:

  1. Childhood Emotional Neglect (CEN): This is the type of Empty that I address in my book, Running on Empty.  It is caused by growing up in a household that is blind to emotion. Children who grow up this way sense that their emotions are invisible and irrelevant. So they push their feelings down, so as to not burden themselves or their parents. These children grow into adults who are out of touch with their own feelings. The emptiness that results is literally a deep sense that something is missing inside; some essential ingredient that is a deeply personal and vital part of who you are. That essential ingredient is, of course, your feelings.
  2. Active Invalidation in Childhood: This is a more extreme version of the CEN described above. It happens when your parents are not just blind to your emotions; they actively reject your emotions. Examples are rejection (ex: “Go to your room”) or punishment for simply being sad, angry, or hurt. If you grow up this way, you learn to not just push your emotions away; but to actively reject and punish yourself for having feelings. In adulthood, your empty space will be filled with self-directed anger and self-blame. On top of feeling empty, you may feel uncomfortable in your own skin, and you may not like yourself very much overall. You may be more vulnerable to depression.
  3. Shallow, Harsh, Unpredictable Parenting:  This is the type of childhood experience which causes significant disruption in the child’s personality that can lead to the development of a personality disorder (such as Narcissistic or Borderline). These parents respond to the child on the surface, while selectively, unpredictably rejecting and punishing his emotional responses. In addition, they greatly reward the child for being how they want him to be, and harshly reject or punish him for simply being, or feeling, himself. When you grow up this way, since you are not permitted to “be” who you are, you develop a fragmented version of who you should be. You reject parts of yourself that your parents find unacceptable, and may experience yourself as perfect one day, and horrible or worthless the next. The missing piece for this child, once grown up, is more than emotion; it’s a cohesive sense of self. This is the deepest, most painful form of Empty. This is the emptiness that is felt by people with personality disorders.

So if you have Empty Type 1 or 2, you have a cohesive “self,” but you lack access to your emotions. With Type 3, you have a fragmented “self” and little access to your emotions. But the anger and pain caused by the unpredictable, shallow and harsh treatment throughout childhood runs deep. Those emotions may erupt unpredictably and intensely, outside your control. You feel empty because you sense, deep down, that your true “self” is fragmented or missing. Sadly, you were not able to develop it while you were growing up.

Here’s the good news. All three forms of emptiness, once understood and acknowledged, can be overcome. Watch for my next post, The Different Forms of Emptiness Part II, which will be about the paths to healing when you have Emptiness Type 1, 2 or 3.

Yes, they are different.

To learn more about Childhood Emotional Neglect, see my first book Running on Empty. 

This article was originally published on Psychcentral.com and has been republished here with the permission of the author and PsychCentral

Jonice

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below
Naomi - August 17, 2015 Reply

I am so glad I have found this website, I’m seventeen and for years now I have never felt emotion, neither good nor bad. It’s like I don’t care about anything. I don’t think I have the capacity to love someone romantically, and I even sometimes doubt that I love the people in my family. I feel completely empty. I don’t know if it’s related or not but I am also physically numb, in the sense I am never sexually aroused by anything. I’m really hoping this site will give me some answers and maybe give my emotions and feelings back.

Nancy - January 18, 2015 Reply

I’ve taken your “test” (most answers were “yes”. Having grown up in a bordering town from you, with alcoholic parents who divorced when I was 10 y.o. (1950’s) I wish I’d found you LONG ago. At that time the elephant was still in the LR. I don’t remember, but I must have suffered chronic stress due to emotional neglect as an infant. I had one brother 1 yr older who I’m sure demanded more attention. Most definitely later on… as well as emotional abuse. I’ve read your book, it was great. It shouldn’t take 60 years to recover from and understand the effects of our past. I was told recently by a LCSW, that I suffer PTSD and it was suggested I study Peter Levine’s books on trauma. Do you have any experience in his technique of “Somatic Experiencing”? I live too far off the beaten path to find anyone less than 200 miles away. If you know about him/his work, would you recommend using his CDs? I’m fairly sure I won’t go off the deep end. LOL 🙂 Thanks.

    Jonice Webb - January 18, 2015 Reply

    Hi Nancy, first let me say that’s neat that you’re from my home town area! I do think there are licensed psychologists in some of the larger towns around there. To answer your question, Peter Levine’s methods are legitimate and can be very effective. If you are drawn to his style of work, I think using his CD’s is definitely worth a try, but I think it would work best if you found a psychologist to use for talk therapy while you go through it. I’m glad you found Running on Empty helpful! Keep up your efforts, and it will continue to pay off. Take care, OK!

      Courtney - July 20, 2015 Reply

      Thank you so much for your work, it has been so helpful! I have been working through my type 2 childhood; my mom had Narcissistic PD and my dad wasn’t much better. I have incorporated the change sheets into my daily life and I’m seeing a therapist but somehow I still go through periods of numbness were nothing helps, I am wondering if you have any more advice? Thank you 🙂

        Jonice Webb - July 24, 2015 Reply

        Hi Courtney, that is wonderful that you’re doing the work as you are! I assure you that periods of numbness are a normal part of the recovery process. The more work you do, the less they will happen and the shorter they’ll be. If you’re not doing the Identification & Naming Exercise at least daily, you could start doing it more. Also, meditation is very helpful in opening doors. Don’t be discouraged, just keep breaking down the wall between yourself and your feelings. It will continue to pay off! Wishing you all the best!

Flo - December 18, 2014 Reply

Type 2 resonates with me. Change is underway, at long last. I now take my emotional self abandonment seriously, and no longer place credence in the belief system I absorbed as a kid. For me, using the proactive term ‘birthing a new mother’ is helpful. It captures the essence of developing a consistently welcoming, supportive, and appreciative advocate in my head and heart, in the place of old punitive messages that would still be on auto pilot, if I did nothing. Your perspective is so welcome!

    Jonice Webb - December 19, 2014 Reply

    That sounds like a wonderful strategy Flo. I hope others who read your comment will do the same. Keep up the good work! All my best wishes.

Nora Cortes - December 11, 2014 Reply

Thank again for all th wonderful information. With what I learned about myself in “Running on Emptying” has changed my life. It’s such a relief to know and put a name to what I’ve felt all my life.
Please continue your wonderful work.
Many blessings,
Nora

    Jonice Webb - December 12, 2014 Reply

    Nora, thank you for your comment! I’m so happy to have been a help to you. Wishing you all the best.

beverley ebeling - November 8, 2014 Reply

would be very interested to have access or links to part 2 as a partner of a bpd sufferer. Thanks

    Jonice Webb - November 8, 2014 Reply

    Check back. I haven’t written Part 2 yet but will post it in the coming weeks. Take care!

Tabatha - November 7, 2014 Reply

I am thrilled to come across this site. I was raised with #3 and know exactly how painful it is to feel empty. I am glad to know I can conquer this, and begin to feel Like a whole person for once in my life. I am 23 and still trying to figure out who i am for myself.

    Jonice Webb - November 8, 2014 Reply

    Good for you Tabatha for doing the work! I assure you that you can conquer it. Keep it up.

jenny - November 7, 2014 Reply

Thank you so much for this, I was raised with a mix of all of those. Currently awaiting therapy, I look forward to your next post.

    Jonice Webb - November 8, 2014 Reply

    I promise to post it as soon as possible. Be sure to check back!

Elaine - November 7, 2014 Reply

I am delighted to happen upon this site and am very interested in the topics here.

The Different Faces of Emptiness: Part 1 | Dr. Jonice Webb | MAKE BPD STIGMA-FREE! - November 4, 2014 Reply

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