When a person is left alone with themselves, certain difficulties can arise. Although spending time with ourselves is essential, managing it is not always easy.
There is a fragile line between distancing yourself and getting closer to yourself. Facing yourself is not something you can always dare to do.
That’s why we often look for ways to distract ourselves. But this search can turn into an escape. And behind that escape lies a familiar feeling: emptiness.
What Is the Feeling of Emptiness?
The feeling of emptiness may stem from childhood neglect or arise after experiencing intense emotions, whether positive or negative. In such cases, a person may lose the ability to feel other emotions.
Some people experience this feeling rarely, while others feel it much more intensely. This varies depending on life experiences.
What Does It Feel Like?
Imagine yourself in a small interrogation room. A table, a chair, and a lamp… You are alone within four walls.
You don’t want to stay there. You try to escape, to open the door, to find a way out. But nothing changes.
Eventually, you sit down in helplessness. Your thoughts storm through your mind. You don’t fully understand what you feel — only that you must deal with it.
Ways We Escape
Because facing this feeling is difficult, we often choose to escape. The habits we develop unconsciously can be part of this escape.
Alcohol, smoking, junk food, excessive shopping, constant watching, loud music… Even the need to constantly stay in touch with others to avoid being alone.
All of these provide temporary relief. But as long as we ignore the root cause, the problem continues to grow. As we move away from ourselves, we also move away from the solution.
When we start a new job or meet new people, we may temporarily escape this feeling. But when things go wrong, emptiness can return.
What Can Be Done?
Facing emptiness requires courage. Sometimes it can be hard to carry this alone. In such moments, talking to someone you trust or seeking professional support can help.
If you need to move forward on your own, the first step is accepting the feeling. Knowing it is temporary, like all emotions, can be relieving.
Taking deep breaths, becoming aware of the present moment, noticing sounds around you, and observing your feelings can calm your mind.
Recognizing your needs and meeting them in healthy ways helps you feel better and keeps you away from harmful habits.
Facing emptiness is not easy. But when you choose to understand it instead of escaping, you realize you are getting closer to yourself.