--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't even know if I have the capacity…" description: "\"I don't even know if I have the capacity for normal emotions or not because I haven't cried for a long time. You just stifle them for so long that mayb..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_capacity_i-don-t-even-know-if-i-have-the-capacity_1529020.jpg" --- # I don't even know if I have the capacity for normal… ![“I don't even know if I have the capacity for normal emotions or not because I haven't cried for a long time. You just stifle them for so long that maybe you lose them, partially at least. I don't know.” quote by Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_capacity_i-don-t-even-know-if-i-have-the-capacity_1529020.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_capacity_i-don-t-even-know-if-i-have-the-capacity_1529020.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/109/jeffrey-dahmer-21123_capacity_i-don-t-even-know-if-i-have-the-capacity_1529020.jpg) > “I don't even know if I have the capacity for normal emotions or not because I haven't cried for a long time. You just stifle them for so long that maybe you lose them, partially at least. I don't know.” [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker questions his capacity for normal emotions, suggesting prolonged suppression may diminish feeling. **In simple terms:** Suppressing emotions can erode emotional experience. Key Takeaway Seek healthy expression of feelings. Themes emotions psychology self-awareness mental health Mood introspective somber Type personal psychological When to use this quote - personal introspection - therapy - emotional health Key Concepts emotional suppression psychopathology Questions to Reflect On - What emotions might you be suppressing? - How can you safely reconnect with feelings? A Different Perspective Emotional numbness can be a coping mechanism, not a permanent state. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I don't even know if I have the capacity for normal emotions or not because I haven't cried for a long time. 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He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“In the streets, the children scream, the lovers cried, and the poets dreamed,” he crooned, putting down the metal grill tongs to take my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandria-clarke/in-the-streets-the-children-scream-the-lovers-cried-and-the-poets/) [Alexandria Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandria-clarke/) > [I'm often moved by the circumstances around some of my characters, but I don't think I've actually cried watching myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-winslet/i-m-often-moved-by-the-circumstances-around-some-of-my-characters-but/) [Kate Winslet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-winslet/) > [“Wait here, wait here!" he cried and jumped up and began to run for help toward a cluster of lights he saw in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flannery-o-connor/wait-here-wait-here-he-cried-and-jumped-up-and-began-to-run-for-help/) [Flannery O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flannery-o-connor/) ## More by Jeffrey Dahmer > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [It is now over. This has never been a case of trying to get free. I didn't ever want freedom. Frankly, I wanted death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/it-is-now-over-this-has-never-been-a-case-of-trying-to-get-free-i/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I still have guilt. I will probably never get rid of that, but yes, I'm free of the compulsion and the driving need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-still-have-guilt-i-will-probably-never-get-rid-of-that-but-yes-i-m/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [The only motive that there ever was was to completely control a person; a person I found physically attractive. 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Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Disappointment contains an appointment for doing much better. 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