Why do I hear voices and feel no emotion?
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.
– Updated on September 4, 2025
Question
Hi. I’ve been trying to find reliable advice on what to do.
I feel completely numb. I have no emotions. I’m very antisocial and avoid people whenever I can. I hate everyone around me, even my family. I also hear a voice that tells me to hurt or kill them.
I can’t stand being in public, so I isolate myself as much as possible. The worst part is that I enjoy torturing and killing animals. I feel like I have to do it to keep “him” under control.
I tried to kill myself when I was around eight. I believe this started because of things that happened in my childhood. I’m trying to resist the urge to hurt people, but I don’t think I can hold it back forever.
Please, I need help.
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Answer
Everything that you describe sounds very much like a disease called Schizophrenia. What you need to know is that there is very real help for you. Today, there are medications that help to relieve the terrible symptoms you describe.
I also want you to know that there is nothing that you did or that your family did to cause this problem. We do not know the cause of schizophrenia. We do know that it is a brain disease. Without medication, your brain is not working right. Medicine helps the nerve cells in you brain function properly.
Please see a psychiatrist or go to a hospital emergency room and explain you symptoms and either a psychiatrist of your choosing or a hospital psychiatrist will start to help you.
Go for help. The greatest danger faced with schizophrenia is suicide but there is a danger that the voice you hear could convince you to try to hurt someone.
Go for help, especially to free your self from all of this.
Best of luck.
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We are a health technology company that guides people toward self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.
Jesse Hanson, Ph.D., is a somatic psychologist with more than 20 years of experience in clinical psychology and neuropsychology.
Allan Schwartz, LCSW, Ph.D. is a medical writer with more than 30 years of clinical experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He writes on a wide range of mental health topics, including mood and anxiety disorders, eating disorders, trauma, abuse, stress, and relationship challenges.
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Jesse Hanson, Ph.D.
– Written by
Allan Schwartz, Ph.D.
– Updated on September 4, 2025
Additional Reading
The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience. They actively contribute to the development of content, products, and services, and meticulously review all medical material before publication to ensure accuracy and alignment with current research and conversations in mental health. For more information, please visit the Editorial Policy.
We are a health technology company that guides people toward self-understanding and connection. The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being.