Signs That You Might Be Emotionally Detached

Do others consider you to be a hard-to-read person or think that you come off as a bit cold or icy? Have you ever wondered if you're emotionally unavailable or detached? Since being emotionally closed off can prevent you from creating deep and meaningful connections with others, it's important to be able to recognize the five signs that you might be an emotionally detached person — and take steps to open and warm your heart. 

1. You Don't Share Your Feelings With Others

One of the key signs that you're emotionally detached is that you aren't open or forthright with others regarding your emotions. You tend to keep things very private, hidden, and under wraps. Even if you're feeling sad or hurt, you never open up about this to others or let your true emotions show. In other words, your goal is to never appear weak, clingy, or in search of a shoulder on which to cry.

Being emotionally unavailable and unwilling to share what's on your mind is actually preventing you from getting to know another person on a deeper level. Rather than shutting others out, it's time to shut the door on this chapter of being emotionally detached and open up in new ways. 

2. You Put an End to Relationships Before They Start

Another clear indicator that you might be emotionally unavailable is that you prevent yourself from getting involved with others in a serious way. Those who are cut-off emotionally simply won't risk being entirely vulnerable around someone else and tend to call relationships off before they can truly begin.

Whether or not you've been hurt in the past, emotionally detached people aren't willing to take things a step further with a significant other, or truly put their faith in and rely on another person. While caring deeply about someone and being emotionally vulnerable can seem like huge risks, the reward of finding a healthy, happy, and loving relationship makes it truly worth it in the end.  

3. You're Not Comfortable Dealing With Other People's Emotions

An additional sign that you might be emotionally detached is that you aren't comfortable with others sharing their feelings with you. In other words, since you tend to put up a wall and keep your emotions hidden, having to console someone else can leave you feeling awkward and out of place.

Being able to connect with others during the more challenging moments in their lives and helping them to get through those harder periods can actually strengthen the bonds you have with one another. Rather than jumping ship when others around you are in need, you should dive right in with an empathetic ear, a helping hand, and an open heart. 

4. You Use Sarcasm as a Shield

Do you tend to rely on humor in order to hide your real emotions? In other words, rather than showing your feelings of disappointment, pain, or grief, you tend to brush things off with a joke or two and use sarcasm as a defense mechanism to appear strong and unfazed to others, even if you're hurting inside.

By making jokes in the face of serious situations, you never have to appear vulnerable, needy, or in search of support from others. However, showing your emotions isn't a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of being human. You may be surprised to see how many other people can empathize with whatever you're going through and experiencing.

5. You Tell Yourself That You're Fine on Your Own

Another clear sign that you might be emotionally detached is that you've convinced yourself that you don't need anyone else in your life in a real way. Although recognizing that you don't need a relationship in order to feel complete is an important realization, it's equally important to understand the difference between "needing" and "wanting."

You may be a self-sufficient person who doesn't need to rely on anyone else in any capacity. However, having the option will only enhance the life that you've built for yourself. Remember that humans are social creatures by nature, so it's time to look at a relationship as something that can add to the life that you've built for yourself.