I cant feel.

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i cant feel. i have become a husk, a simple shell controlled by a fist-sized blob of flesh connected to my body by nerves. i think i always was just that. i have to actively struggle to gain control of my body, to even contort and pull my facial muscles to form a smile, so that others think im fine. im not. im not fine. i dont even know how im typing this. i cant think. i cant act. i cant react. i just cannot. its like im not there. im a prisoner, caged under my skin. but i dont know how to escape.

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Hi @user5082,

I can hear just how painful and exhausting things feel for you right now.

It sounds like you’re feeling so disconnected from yourself and everything around you, like you’re trapped inside your body and going through the motions just to get by.

It makes sense that pretending you’re okay, forcing yourself to smile for others, would feel completely draining when you’re struggling this much.

I’m so sorry you’re feeling this way. Those feelings of being like a ‘shell’ or caged from yourself is incredibly hard, and I imagine it must feel incredibly lonely too— like no one can really see what you’re going through.

I wonder if there’s someone in your life—a friend or family member—you might feel safe sharing these feelings with. You deserve to be seen and supported in your struggles. Often, the people who care about us genuinely want to know how we’re really doing, not the “I’m fine” version of ourselves we think we have to show to the world.

You don’t need to have the words or the answers right now. Just the fact that you’ve typed this out and shared it — even if you don’t know how — is a real act of strength. You’re not invisible here. You’re not alone.

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It gets better after u seek help. Do u have anything u like or give u purpose?

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Dear @user5082

Thank you for writing in and sharing your experiences. I hear you and see you. What you described sounds exhausting. It suggests that even trying to exist, feels like too much sometimes.

That numb, disconnected feeling you shared is not strange or silly. It’s something many people go through when they’ve been holding in pain for a long time. When life has felt overwhelming for too long, your mind sometimes puts up a wall, almost like a safety mode. It doesn’t make you broken. It means you’ve been trying to protect yourself in the only way you know how.

Even if you don’t feel it right now, I want you to know that the very fact you wrote in and trying matters a lot. Even if it felt distant or mechanical, writing it down suggests a part of you is reaching out to be heard.

You don’t have to face this alone. I encourage you to talk to someone about how you’ve been feeling. It could be a trusted adult, a school counselor, or even a mental health professional. There are also helplines and safe spaces where people are trained to listen without judgment. One such resource is Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) which you can contact through: Our Services - Samaritans of Singapore (SOS)

And if talking feels hard, that’s okay too. You can even start with just showing them what you’ve written here. Let someone walk beside you, even if you don’t know what to say yet.

You don’t need to “escape” or fix everything all at once. For now, just know that you’re not alone, that the situation can change for the better with time and you chipping way at it.

Take one small step forward at a time. And keep reaching out whenever you need to. :yellow_heart:

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Hey @user5082. This sounds incredibly painful, and I’m really sorry you’re feeling this way. I can tell how overwhelming and suffocating it feels to be so trapped in your own skin. That level of disconnection, I can imagine how hollow and exhausting it feels.

I want you to know that what you’re describing doesn’t make you strange, broken, or weak. It makes you human, a human who’s been carrying too much for too long without enough support.

You’re not just a shell. The fact that you can describe this experience so vividly tells me that you are here more than you think. That part of you that is observing, describing, noticing
 that’s all you, even if it feels far away right now. That means something more than you know.

Sometimes our minds disconnect from our emotions as a way of protecting us from something too overwhelming. It’s not failure. It’s survival. And survival is strength, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

You don’t need to fix everything. You don’t need to “escape” all at once. Just returning to one moment can be enough. It could be something as simple as placing your hand over your heart, noticing that you’re breathing, or whispering, “I’m still here.” Because you are. And you matter.

You don’t need to force your way out of the fog. Even fog shifts. Even numbness can soften. And maybe, bit by bit, by just naming it like you did today, that part of you can start to feel seen again.

You’re not alone in this, okay? :sunflower:

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Hi @user5082, I applaud you for your courage in writing in to Let’s Talk for support.

What you’ve shared holds such raw, aching clarity - it’s like you’re watching yourself from behind frosted glass, unable to reach through and reconnect. Even the effort to smile, to move, to show others that you’re “okay” feels like you’re puppeteering from the inside, straining against something you can’t quite name. That sense of being trapped in your own body, numb and drifting, can make it feel as though you’re disappearing, yet your words carry such vivid depth - they’re a kind of lifeline, proof that something within you is still reaching, still refusing to surrender to that emptiness. I see you in this. You’re not alone here, even if it feels like you’re vanishing from yourself.

If you would like to speak to a professional about this, you may contact:

Samaritans of Singapore: 1767 (Phone Call) / +65 9151 1767 (WhatsApp)

National Mindline: 1711 (Phone Call) / +65 6669 1771 (WhatsApp)

If you would like to speak to a mental health professional in person, you may contact:

Community Intervention Team (COMIT) if you are aged 18 and above: SupportGoWhere

Youth Integrated Team (YIT) if you are aged 12 to 25: SupportGoWhere

These services are fully funded by the government and there is no out-of-pocket cost. You can call or email the nearest COMIT provider, and they will arrange an appointment with you within 3 working days, then provide support within the next 14 working days.

Hope this helps!

Other useful links:

Best regards,
HanSolo2000
Befriender | let’s talk by mindline

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Hello @user5082, I know right now it feels like you’re trapped inside your own body, like a prisoner with no way out, and that feeling of numbness can be terrifying and exhausting. But even in this darkness, the fact that you’re here, typing this, reaching out in any way. That is a powerful sign that somewhere inside you, a part of you still wants to fight, still wants to find a way through this.

It’s okay to feel lost and stuck. Healing isn’t about suddenly feeling better overnight. It’s about taking things one tiny step at a time, even when every step feels heavy. You don’t have to force yourself to feel happy or “normal” right now. Just allowing yourself to be real and honest with what you’re going through is important.

Please remember: this is not the end of your story. What you’re experiencing doesn’t define you, and it won’t last forever. There are people who care deeply and want to help you carry this burden. Friends, family, professionals who can help you find a way to feel alive again.

You are not alone, even if it feels that way. You matter so much more than this pain makes you believe. Hold on to the smallest glimmers of hope, no matter how faint. Sometimes the light shows up in unexpected ways. A kind word, a quiet moment, a bit of kindness to yourself.

I believe in your strength, even if you don’t feel it right now. And I believe that, with time and support, you can find your way back to feeling whole again. You’re worth that fight. Keep holding on. I’m here with you.