What if numbness isn't the problem? - 142

What if numbness isn't the problem? - 142

This episode sheds light on the personal battles against addiction, emotional shutdown and midlife reinvention through Star Monroe’s raw self-enquiry. Instead of treating numbness as something to fix, Star asks a bold question: "What if numbness isn't the problem?" and uses her own life as the testing ground.

You'll hear her unpack the phrase "I don't care" and how, for her, it often masks a deeper truth: that she actually cares very intensely, and that numbness is acting as a frontline defence against pain. She traces how busyness, consumer culture, social media and constant distraction can amplify numbness, especially after her move from a slow, spacious life in Turkey to the speed-obsessed environment of America.

Star speaks openly about her history as an addict and alcoholic, and how years of pushing through life without pause led to multiple nervous breakdowns. That experience now fuels her insistence on living slowly, creating space, and refusing to abandon parts of herself that feel uncomfortable or inconvenient. Rather than offering a neat five-step fix, she shares a process of sitting with numbness, noticing the urge to run, and letting feelings arise without labelling them as good or bad.

She even invites you to put a hand on your heart and see what surfaces, whether that’s sadness, anger, or a simple "hello" from within. This is especially relevant if you're in midlife, questioning old dreams, feeling your drive fade, or wondering why life force and libido feel flat. Star makes it clear that creativity, desire and genuine self-knowledge often sit just beyond that blank, boring-feeling space we try so hard to avoid.

If you’re tired of quick fixes and ready to meet your own numbness with curiosity instead of shame, this episode could be the pause you’ve been needing—are you willing to give yourself that full attention?