There are some things that make us feel more alive. Closer to god. We cling to these things. Some of us are used to pain, others, pleasure. Whatever it is we crave it, when it's not there. We seek for things to bring out our passion-life, love, death, destruction, orgasm, speaking to angels, spiritual bliss.
We also seek numbness.

Feelings can be so raw, and without proper avenues, expression is void. Useless. We are talking to the deaf. Therefore we seek the numbness to prevent the feeling of helplessness. How vulnerable we truly are.