--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I know from my own clinical work that…" description: "\"I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.\" — John Bradshaw" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg" --- # I know from my own clinical work that when people are… ![“I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.” quote by John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg) > “I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.” [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Trauma can cause emotional numbing as a protective mechanism, preventing further pain by shutting down feeling. **In simple terms:** Numbing as trauma defense Key Takeaway Numbing blocks feeling Themes Trauma Coping Psychology Emotional regulation Resilience Mood Somber Reflective Type Observation Clinical insight When to use this quote - Therapy sessions - Crisis counseling - Recovery support Key Concepts Numbing Self-protection Pain avoidance Practical Applications - Clinical assessment - Trauma-informed care Questions to Reflect On - How does numbing affect long‑term emotional health? - What strategies can restore feeling safely? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numb/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [At this moment I am feeling disappointed with myself and I am hurt and numb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-o-sullivan/at-this-moment-i-am-feeling-disappointed-with-myself-and-i-am-hurt/) [Ronnie O'Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-o-sullivan/) > [You can only get hurt so much before you get numb.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-giudice/you-can-only-get-hurt-so-much-before-you-get-numb/) [Teresa Giudice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-giudice/) > [I had such severe nerve damage that I didn't get the nerves all the way back. My pinky toe on my left foot is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-jacobs/i-had-such-severe-nerve-damage-that-i-didn-t-get-the-nerves-all-the/) [Daniel Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-jacobs/) > [I've become so numb I can feel you there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/i-ve-become-so-numb-i-can-feel-you-there/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [“My hands are numb. I can’t feel my face. My tongue be­longs to some­body else.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/my-hands-are-numb-i-can-t-feel-my-face-my-tongue-be-longs-to-some/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [I'd rather be numb then feel this pain that is destroying me inside and out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sangfroid-stalker/i-d-rather-be-numb-then-feel-this-pain-that-is-destroying-me-inside/) [SangFroid Stalker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sangfroid-stalker/) > [I am numb but I can still feel you Sometimes Im blind but I see you You are here but so far away The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-am-numb-but-i-can-still-feel-you-sometimes-im-blind-but-i-see-you/) Patience > [I've become so numb I can't feel you there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/i-ve-become-so-numb-i-can-t-feel-you-there/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [“I've become so numb, I can't feel you there. Become so tired, so much more aware. In becoming this, all I want to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/i-ve-become-so-numb-i-can-t-feel-you-there-become-so-tired-so-much/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [“Time can't heal, but it is a "pain-killer". Just let it flow, then you know what's NUMB feel like.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-sumanti/time-can-t-heal-but-it-is-a-pain-killer-just-let-it-flow-then-you/) Paul Sumanti > [Something inside me shuts down and I'm too numb to feel anything. It's like watching complete strangers in another Hunger Games. But I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/something-inside-me-shuts-down-and-i-m-too-numb-to-feel-anything-it-s/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Words fail to describe what i feel anymore. Let me be numb for a while, let me be sore.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjum-choudhary/words-fail-to-describe-what-i-feel-anymore-let-me-be-numb-for-a-while/) [Anjum Choudhary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjum-choudhary/) > [When you've been hurt, so much, that you don't feel anything anymore...You're just numb...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denicia-provencio/when-you-ve-been-hurt-so-much-that-you-don-t-feel-anything-anymore/) [Denicia Provencio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denicia-provencio/) > [“I feel empty confused hurt numb disoriented mad vulnerable insignificant blurry tired sweaty overwhelmed temporary anxious”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-schutz/i-feel-empty-confused-hurt-numb-disoriented-mad-vulnerable/) [Samantha Schutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-schutz/) > [I've always asked for something special to happen but I was too blind to see, too deaf to hear and too numb to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoheb/i-ve-always-asked-for-something-special-to-happen-but-i-was-too-blind/) [Zoheb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoheb/) ## More by John Bradshaw > [Recovery begins with embracing our pain and taking the risk to share it with others. We do this by joining a group and talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/recovery-begins-with-embracing-our-pain-and-taking-the-risk-to-share/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“Generally speaking, most of our vital, spontaneous, instinctual life gets shamed. Children are shamed for being too rambunctious, for wanting things and for laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/generally-speaking-most-of-our-vital-spontaneous-instinctual-life/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“A covert kind of sexual abuse occurs when Dad or Mom talk about sex in front of the children when the age level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/a-covert-kind-of-sexual-abuse-occurs-when-dad-or-mom-talk-about-sex/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“Love-that which biologists, nervous about being misunderstood call "attachment"-fuels the bond between dog and master or mistress.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/love-that-which-biologists-nervous-about-being-misunderstood-call/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“(b) Boundary Violation. This involves children witnessing parents in sexual behavior. They may walk in on it because parents don’t provide closed or locked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/b-boundary-violation-this-involves-children-witnessing-parents-in/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“A toxically shamed person is divided within himself and must create a false-self cover-up to hide his sense of being flawed and defective. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/a-toxically-shamed-person-is-divided-within-himself-and-must-create-a/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [I define a 'good person' as somebody who is fully conscious of their own limitations. They know their strengths, but they also know their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-define-a-good-person-as-somebody-who-is-fully-conscious-of-their/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“The ego defense of conversion transforms developmental needs into the need for something else. This could be food, money or excessive attention. In Max’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-ego-defense-of-conversion-transforms-developmental-needs-into-the/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“In fact, the most paradoxical aspect of neurotic shame is that it is the core motivator of the superachieved and the underachieved, the star…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-fact-the-most-paradoxical-aspect-of-neurotic-shame-is-that-it-is/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“If our primary caregivers are shame-based, they will act shameless and pass their toxic shame onto us. There is no way to teach self-value…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/if-our-primary-caregivers-are-shame-based-they-will-act-shameless-and/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [Ego is to the true self what a flashlight is to a spotlight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/ego-is-to-the-true-self-what-a-flashlight-is-to-a-spotlight/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“If a cat falls out of a high-rise building or a tall tree, it has another trick available: forming a “parachute” by spreading all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/if-a-cat-falls-out-of-a-high-rise-building-or-a-tall-tree-it-has/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“In the past, when dogs’ functions were mostly rural, it was accepted that they were intrinsically messy and needed to be managed on their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/in-the-past-when-dogs-functions-were-mostly-rural-it-was-accepted/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [“IDENTIFICATION When victimization takes place the victim often identifies with the persecutor. By so doing the victim no longer feels the helplessness and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/identification-when-victimization-takes-place-the-victim-often/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [That's the trouble with the conventional doctors. They always say, 'How does it work?' but often there isn't any neat little answer...Something simply works...We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/that-s-the-trouble-with-the-conventional-doctors-they-always-say-how/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) [Explore all 178 John Bradshaw quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) ## More Beaten quotes > [I think children have talent and insight, but it gets beaten out of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-dove/i-think-children-have-talent-and-insight-but-it-gets-beaten-out-of/) [Rita Dove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-dove/) > [It's kind of the yin and yang that fascinate me. That for all the evil men do, there are also people who work obnoxiously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-gardner/it-s-kind-of-the-yin-and-yang-that-fascinate-me-that-for-all-the-evil/) [Lisa Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-gardner/) > [It's always a wake-up call to get beaten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usain-bolt/it-s-always-a-wake-up-call-to-get-beaten/) [Usain Bolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/usain-bolt/) > [“I felt my heart skip a beat, just one, but it was enough that I took notice. It was nice to know that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/i-felt-my-heart-skip-a-beat-just-one-but-it-was-enough-that-i-took/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [Class clowns are never allowed to date anybody decent, but you don't get beaten up, you're invited to parties, and everybody likes you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-harmon/class-clowns-are-never-allowed-to-date-anybody-decent-but-you-don-t/) [Dan Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-harmon/) > [You could be beaten down by anybody and by everybody and it doesn't matter what everybody else thinks it's how you see yourself and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-cuban/you-could-be-beaten-down-by-anybody-and-by-everybody-and-it-doesn-t/) [Mark Cuban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-cuban/) > [Could beauty be beaten out, O youth the cities have sent to strike at each other's strength, it is you who have kept her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilda-doolittle/could-beauty-be-beaten-out-o-youth-the-cities-have-sent-to-strike-at/) [Hilda Doolittle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilda-doolittle/) > [The midget, Bush, and that Rumsfeld deserve only to be beaten with shoes by freedom loving people everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/the-midget-bush-and-that-rumsfeld-deserve-only-to-be-beaten-with/) [Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-saeed-al-sahaf/) > [Like with every form of cancer, early detection is what it is all about. I urge everyone to learn the facts about this condition.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-stewart/like-with-every-form-of-cancer-early-detection-is-what-it-is-all/) [Rod Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-stewart/) > [In our culture of constant access and nonstop media, nothing feels more like a curse from God than time in the wilderness. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-martin/in-our-culture-of-constant-access-and-nonstop-media-nothing-feels/) [Jonathan Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-martin/) > [A man who is determined never to move out of the beaten road cannot lose his way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/a-man-who-is-determined-never-to-move-out-of-the-beaten-road-cannot/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [I admit that I've been beaten up so many times in films, but we do not fake it - we actually have to fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/min-sik-choi/i-admit-that-i-ve-been-beaten-up-so-many-times-in-films-but-we-do-not/) [Min-sik Choi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/min-sik-choi/) > [I do not approve of children being beaten. It is always a confession of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-wentworth/i-do-not-approve-of-children-being-beaten-it-is-always-a-confession/) [Patricia Wentworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-wentworth/) > [If you can feel that staying human is worth while, even when it can't have any practical result whatsoever, you've beaten them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/if-you-can-feel-that-staying-human-is-worth-while-even-when-it-can-t/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The cynic makes fun of all earnestness; he makes fun of everything and everyone who feels that something can be done. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-edgar-vincent/the-cynic-makes-fun-of-all-earnestness-he-makes-fun-of-everything-and/) George Edgar Vincent Browse all 665 Beaten quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel anymore.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Bradshaw" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Beaten" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f1/john-bradshaw-2227_beaten_i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-wh_66078.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I know from my own clinical work that when people are beaten and hurt, they numb out so that they cant feel…” — John Bradshaw", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Bradshaw", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I know from my own clinical...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/i-know-from-my-own-clinical-work-that-when-people-are-beaten-and-hurt/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```