Feeling Empty Inside. What does it feel like?

Have you ever experienced a persistent, unsettling sensation, a feeling that something is missing, or that you’re just going through the motions?

This feeling, often described as a sense of emptiness or hollowness, is a deeply personal and often uncomfortable experience.

You might feel numb, detached, or chronically bored.

It can manifest as a vague internal void, like being hollow in your belly or chest.

While this sensation can be frightening, it’s important to understand that you are not alone in feeling this way.

What Emptiness Feels Like and How It Manifests

The feeling of emptiness can be difficult to identify, understand, and process because there seemingly isn’t anything concrete to pinpoint.

You may feel

A sense of being untethered, disconnected from yourself
A hollow feeling inside
Numb
Like you frequently question your purpose in life
All alone in the world
Different from most people

People often try to fill this void with external activities or substances, such as sex, drugs, overexercising, excessive eating, online shopping, or even constantly breaking up and making up with friends and partners.

Even seemingly positive actions, like doing charitable things or having a child, can sometimes be an attempt to superficially fill this internal space, though they don’t truly resolve the emptiness.

Unfortunately, trying to dispel feelings of emptiness often makes the uncomfortable sensation more prevalent, interfering with your ability to feel joy, confidence, and connection.

A Normal Feeling, A Valuable Clue

It’s crucial to understand that feeling empty is not necessarily a sign that something is inherently “wrong” with you.

While it can sometimes be linked to mental health conditions like depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder, it is also a common human experience that can last for days, weeks, or even months, especially during challenging times.

Instead of being a flaw, this feeling can serve as a powerful signal.

It’s your mind and body indicating that you might be disconnected from your emotions or that your current environment isn’t aligning with your purpose and goals.

The key insight is to recognize that denying or running away from this feeling actually makes it worse.

Instead, it presents an opportunity for growth and transformation.

When you pause and acknowledge the emptiness, you might discover that it’s survivable and not as frightening as it seems.

This moment of turning towards the feeling with curiosity can be a profound step towards building a more solid sense of yourself.

Uncovering what lies beneath the feeling of emptiness can be a complex but highly rewarding process.

Here are some common underlying reasons for feeling empty:

Disconnection from Emotions: For many, emptiness is a signal that they are disconnected from their own feelings. Growing up in a home environment that did not adequately respond to, validate, or encourage emotions. As adults, they might continue to ignore or minimize their emotions, leading to a sense of something vital missing
Losing Touch with Yourself: You might feel empty if you lack clarity about who you are or who you want to become, or if you don’t have specific goals or dreams
Unresolved Past Experiences: Unexpressed or unexplored long-standing emotions can manifest as emptiness
Not Taking Care of Yourself: Neglecting your own needs, often by prioritizing others, can lead to emptiness, anxiety, guilt, and shame. Spending excessive time on social media can also fuel these feelings by promoting unrealistic comparisons
Lack of Meaningful Relationships: The absence of emotional intimacy, support, and active listening can lead to feelings of emptiness and loneliness
Grief: Emptiness and numbness are common parts of the grieving process after the loss of loved ones
Exhaustion: Both a lack of quality sleep and chronic overwork or caregiving can lead to profound exhaustion that manifests as emptiness
Boredom and Lack of Purpose: Being bored or unsatisfied with daily life can create a void

Finding Hope and Taking Action

Acknowledging your feelings of emptiness is the powerful first step.

Instead of desperately running away from yourself, you can begin a journey of self-discovery and profound transformation.

Here are some ways to start addressing these feelings:

Gently Acknowledge and Tolerate: Allow yourself to feel the emptiness without judgment. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself
Explore and Understand: Turn towards the feeling with curiosity. Ask yourself why you feel empty, considering past experiences, losses, disappointments, or unfulfilling situations. Journaling can be a powerful tool to explore questions
Connect with Your Emotions: Your emotions are valuable messages from your body. Even if you have walled them off due to past experiences, they are still within you. Learning to identify, name, validate, and express your feelings is key
Prioritize Self-Care: Ensure you’re getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and exercising. Dedicate time each day to be with yourself and explore your desires, fears, hopes, and dreams
Engage with Others: Seek out supportive social engagements or groups
Discover Meaningful Activities: Make a list of activities that used to bring you joy or meaning. Even starting with one or two can have a powerful effect
Practice Gratitude: Regularly reflecting on and recording things that make you happy can put feelings into perspective
Seek Professional Support: If your feelings of emptiness are persistent, worsening, or tied to distressing thoughts, reaching out to a mental health professional is advisable. Asking for help is a sign of strength

You possess the capacity to understand what is happening within you.

Your feelings are waiting for you, ready to add meaning, purpose, joy, and colour to your life.

By embracing this internal journey, you can move from “running on empty” to a life that feels more meaningful and whole.

If you’re inspired by examples of people crafting their own path, do subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Scripting Life