Hi I’m here again because I’m not sure of how I feel. Most of the time I feel very sad and depressed, but every once in a while I will stop feeling sad, instead I feel empty and numb. Then I will go back to feeling sad. It makes me feel like I am forcing myself to feel this way to get attention or that I am overreacting. Sometimes I will feel fine, and the next day I will feel like it’s the end of the world. It’s a constant switching from sad to numb, and it makes me really confused. I also feel like I am overreacting when I feel like seeking help, because I will think that ‘ what I am feeling is normal and I am just making a big deal about it.’
It’s like a fight between two different people debating over whether I should feel ‘fine’ or not. I just don’t understand why I keep switching my thoughts and emotions. It’s like an alter ego. I also sometimes wish that something is actually wrong with me, like a reassurance that tells me ‘ you are not overreacting.’ I want to stop feeling so sad all the time but it’s like I’m making myself miserable. But when I get the chance to feel happy, I try to feel sad again, like it comforts me to be sad, even if I hate it. Does that make sense? Can someone plz tell me why this happens? I am so confused
Thank you for sharing so openly with us. Everything you’ve written makes complete sense, and you’re not alone in feeling this way. What you’re describing, switching between sadness, numbness, confusion, and self-doubt is something many people experience when they’re dealing with emotional overwhelm or internal conflict.
It’s incredibly hard when your mind keeps flipping between “I’m okay” and “I’m not okay”. This inner conflict is exhausting, and it can make it really hard to trust your own feelings and thinking that you are just making it up. But please know this what you’re feeling is valid, and it doesn’t have to meet anyone else’s definition of serious enough to matter.
The most helpful step you can take right now is to talk to someone regularly whether it be a counselor, or your parents, or your friends anyone you are comfortable with. Having a safe space to express what you’re going through, without judgment, can make a big difference in sorting through the emotional confusion you’re experiencing.
You’re not overreacting, and your feelings deserve to be heard and understood. Reaching out doesn’t mean you’re weak, it means you’re choosing to care for yourself. Even just one conversation can help bring clarity and remind you that you’re not alone in this. We’re here to listen, without judgment. You don’t need to go through this confusion alone.
Dear @Encore_Lol
Thank you for writing in again dear.
It sounds like you have been going through a tough period and I can feel how confusing and tiring it’s been. I just want to say — you are not alone, what you are feeling is valid and you’re not overreacting.
Shifting between sadness and numbness, then feeling okay one day and completely overwhelmed the next — that kind of emotional swing can be really disorienting. It’s understandable to feel unsure about what’s really happening. Sometimes when we’ve been carrying heavy feelings for a while, our minds can go into a kind of tug-of-war — one part of us wanting to feel better, and another part pulling us back into what’s familiar, even if it’s painful.
And yes, it does make sense that sadness might feel oddly comforting sometimes. It’s not unusual, especially if sadness is something you’ve known for a long time. It’s not about choosing to feel bad — it’s more about your emotional system trying to protect or soothe itself in the only way it knows how right now.
The self-doubt you’re feeling about whether it’s “okay” to ask for help — that’s also really common. But please know this: you don’t need to wait until it feels urgent or extreme to deserve support. Feeling confused, low, or stuck is already a good enough reason.
If you’re still in school, your school counsellor could be a safe and private person to talk to. You don’t have to have all the words — even something like, “I’ve been feeling off and don’t really know why,” is more than enough to start. Counsellors are there to listen without judgment, and you don’t have to go through this alone.
If you’re based in Singapore and would prefer something outside of school, there are free and confidential support options too, such as:
CHAT
The Community Health Assessment Team (CHAT) provides confidential mental health checks for young persons between 16 and 30 years old, who are currently living in Singapore. They operate CHAT hub, a mental health centre located at *SCAPE and maintains an online presence through their website and webchat.
6493 6500
6493 6501
https://www.chat.mentalhealth.sg/
Fei Yue Community Services- EC2
LIVE CHAT eC2 is an online facility offering free counselling to youths.
TOUCH Community Services – TOUCHline
Emotional support and practical advice are rendered through this youth helpline
1800 377 2252
Please do go slow and take it one day at a time. Please try out the resources shared. And reach out here whenever you need to. 
Thank you so much! I will try to reach out to my school counselor when I can.