Affective Flattening

Affective flattening refers to a person's reaction to a situation that seems subdued or detached. This can be a symptom of depression or stress that saps a person's emotional energy and prevents them from being able to mount a more active reaction. This can happen when a person is overwhelmed by tasks or obligations, such as a young mother who is chronically tired and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of raising children may become somewhat numb in their responses to outside events. It can also be a symptom of brain disorders such as schizophrenia.