Emotional numbing

[Torak]

I've a question to ask.

In addition to temporal lobe epilepsy I have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder (I was sexually abused at school by my peers, in public).

I've been having psychotherapy for the PTSD for a year now but we hit a brick wall. The emotional part of my mind is a hard core hidden within my mind. I cannot break into it using EMDR or CBT. I can visualise events that caused the PTSD and SAD, but cannot connect with the emotions unless i actually go into the situation required, usually causing paranoia or a dissociative seizure.

I feel no emotions at all most of the time, except with regards certain obsessions (Arsenal, an English soccer team, where I used to be a season ticket holder).

I'm curious.

Has anyone here had problems connecting to emotions?

I take 450mg/day of Pregabalin (Lyrica).

It's annoying, because PTSD has ruined my life and I'm clutching at straws.

Is it normal for someone with temporal lobe epilepsy to feel no emotions?

[Bernard]

The book The Healing Power of Neurofeedback: The Revolutionary LENS Technique for Restoring Optimal Brain Function mentions several instances where patients found their emotional connections, old memories and psychiatric therapies all improved while using the LENS system.

[RobinN]

Torak - that was quite courageous to share your story with us. I am glad that you felt comfortable to do that. I hope you find more than straws here to grab ahold of.

[Torak]

It tends to be annoying but some parts of it you adapt to, like with epilepsy. You just go from one day to the next and take life as it comes.