One of the most difficult feelings to convey is that of being empty. But, if I had to sum it up in a single line, it is one of the largest and deepest gaps you will ever encounter.

I know directly how tough it is to live with a mental health problem that involves the symptom of feeling emptiness. I had no idea what was wrong until I received my diagnosis. I’d have periods where all I could see was a haze, and to be honest, it was terrifying.

Fast forward to now, and I have a much better understanding of what is going on, and knowing what the symptom was and that I was experiencing it greatly aided me. If you’re starting to feel like you’re going through something similar, pay attention to the indicators I’ve outlined below, and don’t be hesitant to get treatment from a health care provider.

1. You often feel like there is a massive void inside of you that cannot be filled.

You will feel a massive void inside of you when you experience feelings of emptiness. You may desperately want to feel something, but because you don’t, you’ll feel as if it’s pointless to try. As a result, the void within you may become larger and larger.

2. Emotionally turbulent situations are difficult for you to respond to.

You find it difficult to respond in emotionally charged situations. You go blank in a situation that most people would be excited about. You know what it’s like to be excited because you’ve experienced it before, but you feel more like a blank canvas during periods of emptiness.

3. You seek out impulsive activities.

You may go to great lengths to avoid feeling empty. This could include reckless driving, binge drinking, or even drug use.

4. You feel a lack of motivation to your core.

You may be surprised at how much work you have ahead of you. However, you have nothing inside of you to motivate you to do those things because you are feeling empty. It’s possible that you’re having difficulty taking care of yourself.

5. You don’t enjoy things you once really enjoyed.

You had hobbies once upon a time. There were a lot of things you liked. When you try to participate in those activities now, you don’t feel compelled to do so because the activity no longer excites you.

6. When people ask you to explain how you feel, you are at a loss for words.

You can’t explain what’s wrong when your friends and family ask what’s wrong. You desperately want to tell them how you’re feeling, but you’re not sure how.

7. You feel numb, a lot.

You’re numb a lot of the time. You’ve become so used to the emptiness that the empty feelings have become numb.

8. You feel alone at your core.

You feel so alone, even when surrounded by people. As a result, you frequently feel different from others, if not outright alienated.