Mental Health
6: At times I have difficulty feeling the Spirit because I feel numb. Does this mean I am doing something wrong and have lost the Spirit?

“6: At times I have difficulty feeling the Spirit because I feel numb. Does this mean I am doing something wrong and have lost the Spirit?” Mental Health: Help for Me (2019)

“Difficulty Feeling the Spirit,” Mental Health: Help for Me

woman sitting on pew

At times I have difficulty feeling the Spirit because I feel numb. Does this mean I am doing something wrong and have lost the Spirit?

An inability to feel the Spirit, or a general feeling of apathy or numbness, is often a symptom of poor mental health. God has not forsaken you. Consider for a moment that the Spirit may be communicating with you in a different way than you have experienced before. When you struggle to feel the Spirit, or to feel anything at all, try combining these suggestions with prayer as you are able:

  • Counsel with others. Make every effort to talk with your family, bishop, or mental health professional. Thoughtfully implement helpful recommendations.

  • Remember what you knew. Find an old journal entry that describes a spiritual experience, or talk to someone you trust. Have that person remind you of personal strengths, spiritual experiences, and testimony that you’ve shared with them in the past.

  • Fill your home with light. Literally turn on lights or sit in the sunshine. Play uplifting music, listen to talks from general conference, look at artwork, or read the scriptures or another good book. Make your home a place of peace where the Spirit can dwell.

  • Check in with yourself. Consider whether you can feel anything right now. If you feel numb or disconnected, talk to a trusted friend, family member, or Church leader, or seek professional help.