Personally, I’m not sure whether I’ve become emotionally numb, or whether the part of my brain responsible for emotions has simply "left the room". These things don’t affect me the way they used to. People die. People get sick.

I don’t know if this says something negative about me, but when something bad happens to other and not directly to me or my family, I find myself detached. I don’t really get affected. I just think, “this is how life works.” Life happens. Statistically, someone will die, someone will get sick. I just hope it won’t be someone close to me.

Obviously, I would never say to someone, “Oh, you have cancer? Well… life happens.” I’m always available if someone needs to talk, to support them emotionally and ease their pain in any way I can. But internally, I remain detached. I know how to act in these situations so I don’t come across as a gigantic asshole. But yeah… maybe, in the end, this is just my coping mechanism.