Miyo’s emotional numbness displayed in My Happy Marriage episode “The Gift” shows us just how terrible the Saimori family have treated her.

Episode 4 of My Happy Marriage left me with this bittersweetness. Although the episode ended on a sweet moment, with Miyo having the courage to tell Kiyoka Kudou what she had been wanting to say all this time about her lack of a spiritual gift and upbringing as well as giving him a beautiful braided cord, I couldn’t help but feel sad for everything that Miyo is going through, and if this episode has taught me anything, it’s that Miyo is suffering from emotional numbness.

Emotional numbness can be described as a psychological phenomenon where your mind shuts down in order to cope when we are overstimulated. In this case, I believe it started when she saw her sister for the first time since leaving the Saimori household, with Kouji nonetheless, and add in several insults, disrespect, and that evil smirk and I would be overstimulated too.

Joe Nemmers, a therapist at UnityPoint Health says that, “In the face of physical or emotional pain, or a traumatic incident, our sympathetic nervous system has three responses: fight, flight or freeze. Emotional numbing is freezing. Our brain shuts down as a protective response to keep us safe when our nervous system is overloaded.”

Emotional numbing can have a big impact on mental health, leading to feelings of detachment and apathy. We could see this displayed in earlier episodes. Miyo’s trauma she faced has likely led to her developing depression or even PTSD with how terrified and disassociated she looked as soon as she was triggered by Kaya’s appearence in town.

At any rate, Kiyoka Kuduo likely will need to have patience and a loving nuturing heart in order to help Miyo to emotionally heal. I believe he is up to the challenge though.

Catch up on this week’s episode here.