Flatlined: Signs You Might Be in the Void and Not Know It

After the pandemic, many people noticed they weren't feeling quite the same — but couldn't explain exactly why.

Life continued. They kept working, caring for families, exercising, even socializing. On the surface, everything looked "fine."

Photo by Falaq Lazuardi

But underneath, something had shifted. A sense of disconnection. A loss of emotional depth. A creeping feeling that healing, growth, and even joy had become harder to reach.

Just “going through the motions” without motivation or drive. A lack of life force.

This is the nature of the Void State — and one of the most confusing parts is that you might not even realize you’re in it.You’re still functioning — but you're flatlined.

Normal Stress vs. The Void

It's important to know: feeling stressed, tired, or off sometimes is normal .Our bodies are wired to cycle through rest, challenge, growth, and repair.

But when the system gets stuck — when disconnection becomes the norm rather than a passing phase — you may be living in something deeper: A chronic survival state where your life force energy is diminished and your ability to truly integrate, connect, and heal is compromised.

Signs You Might Be in the Void

Here are some of the patterns I’ve observed in my practice, and lived through myself.You might recognize yourself in some (or many) of these — even if you’re still "getting by."

🌿 Physical Signs:

• Fatigue that feels deeper than lack of sleep — a low vitality that doesn't lift easily

• Exercise (walking) makes you feel worse, not better — leaving you drained or with aches and pains instead of energized

• Pain, symptoms, or fatigue worsen after physical effort

• Coordination or balance feels off, even in simple movements

• Injuries, illnesses, or flare-ups that seem more frequent or stubborn

• Pain or symptoms that show up more on one side of the body than the other

🧠 Mental and Emotional Signs:

• Emotional flatness — not experiencing your usual emotional range

• Cognitive fatigue — mental tasks feel harder, and "brain fog" feels heavier

• Kindness feels like a decision from your mind, not a feeling from your heart

• Increased irritability or anger, especially when challenged

• Moments of sudden rage or survival reactions, even when you know it’s not logical

• Feeling emotionally disconnected from loved ones or from yourself

• Loss of resonance — music, movies, experiences don't move you the way they used to

🌬️ Energetic and Relational Signs:

• Difficulty sensing or connecting with others' emotions or energy — feeling more isolated even when around people

• Acts of kindness and compassion feel mechanical, not arising naturally from your heart or deeper energy

• Healing efforts don't seem to "stick" — therapy, bodywork, energy healing, even rest or good habits feel like they don’t make a lasting impact

• Loss of drive for spiritual connection, creativity, or growth — purpose and passions feel distant or muted

• Deep sense that you’re "going through the motions" without being fully alive inside

  
  

Recognizing Yourself Is Powerful

If you recognize yourself in these signs, please know this: You are not lazy. You are not failing. 

Your system adapted to survive unprecedented levels of disruption, isolation, fear, and interruption of natural life rhythms. The Void is not who you are — it’s a state you’re moving through.

And awareness is powerful. It is the first, essential step toward restoring connection, vitality, and joy.

Check out my other blog about why healing can feel so hard when you're stuck in the Void — and why nothing seems to "hold" until the system is ready. [link]

Sara McRae | Creator of HigherCx™

Wellness practitioner, teacher of Touch for Health, and guide for recovery from Long COVID, trauma, and the Void State. Exploring resilience, energy, and conscious integration.