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Emotional Dampening

Meaning

Emotional Dampening is a neurobiological and psychological phenomenon characterized by a significant reduction in the intensity, range, and subjective experience of emotional responses. Clinically, it can manifest as a blunted affect, reduced capacity for pleasure (anhedonia), and a general sense of emotional numbness or flatness. While sometimes a coping mechanism, it is frequently observed as a side effect of certain psychotropic medications or as a core symptom of severe chronic stress and neuroendocrine dysregulation, particularly involving glucocorticoid excess.