"In environments of sustained danger, the mind adapts in order to keep going. Dr. Richard Mollica explains that when people are facing the fear of death, they can't live every moment thinking about their own death or the death of their children. So they shut down their emotions."
"The response allows people to function. It enables them to make decisions, care for others, and move through daily life even when danger is constant. But it comes at a cost."
"As emotional responsiveness diminishes, so does the ability to feel connection, empathy, and meaning. Over time, something essential begins to thin out."
Civilians in Ukraine are making life-threatening decisions during the ongoing conflict, often choosing to carry their pets despite the risks involved. This behavior can seem irrational, but it reflects how the human mind copes with extreme stress. Dr. Richard Mollica describes 'psychic numbing,' where individuals shut down emotions to function amidst constant danger. While this response allows for decision-making and care for others, it diminishes emotional responsiveness and the ability to feel connection and empathy over time.
Read at Psychology Today
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