Becoming emotionally numb is the result of suppressing negative feelings that cause pain. This state of mind is a type of defense mechanism that is commonly used to deny the overwhelming senses of reality. In doing so, the positive emotions that produce comfort are equally kept away. When people allow themselves to experience pain, they allow themselves to experience comfort. Likewise, when people keep themselves from experiencing pain, they also keep themselves from experiencing comfort. To feel numb is to feel nothing at all.