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Nov 16, 2021 · The parts of the brain that process physical pain are very similar to the parts that process emotional pain. This is why, for example, when your heart gets broken, you literally feel physical pain.
- Overview
- Symptoms of Emotional Pain
- Causes of Emotional Pain
- Impact
- Emotional Pain Treatment
- Coping
Emotional pain is pain or hurt that originates from non-physical sources. Sometimes this emotional distress is the result of the actions of others. Other times, it might be the result of regret, grief, or loss. In other cases, it might be the result of an underlying mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.
No matter what the cause, this psychological pain can be intense and significantly affect many different areas of your life.
While it is often dismissed as being less serious than physical pain, it is important that emotional pain is taken seriously. There are a number of common feelings that are associated with emotional pain that can have an impact on both your physical and mental health.
Also Known As: Psychic pain, spiritual pain, psychalgia, emotional suffering, psychological pain, algopsychalia, soul pain, or mental pain
Symptoms of emotional pain can include feelings of:
•Deep sorrow, sadness, or depression
•Grief
•Intense distress
•Loneliness and isolation
•Negative emotions
Sadness
Sadness is a natural emotion that is associated with loss and disappointment. However, if it doesn't fade with time, it might point to a treatable condition, depression, that can impact your whole body. If sadness lasts for more than just a few days and impacts your daily life, it may be necessary to seek out medical intervention. You should consult with your doctor and be completely honest about any alcohol or drugs you have been using to cope and self-medicate.
Unexpressed Anger
Anger is a basic human emotion. It releases adrenaline, which increases muscle tension and speeds up breathing. This is the "fight" part of the "fight/flight/freeze" response. It can be mobilizing at times; however, if it's not adequately managed, this response can lead to long-term physical consequences.
Anxiety
As with anger, anxiety and fear both also release adrenaline. This generally results in jumpiness, a tendency to startle easily, the inability to relax (the "flight" response), or a feeling of being immobilized or stuck (the “freeze” response). In some people, anxiety is a symptom of an anxiety disorder, and psychotherapy or prescription medication can help. Anxiety can also be induced by substance use, in which case, quitting alcohol and drugs can often improve the symptoms. Tell your doctor about any alcohol or drug use to ensure you are properly diagnosed and treated.
Psychological pain can also contribute to or worsen physical pain in different areas of the body. Some common types of physical pain that may be connected to emotional distress include:
•Diarrhea
•Dizziness
•Headaches
•Muscle pain, particularly in the neck
•Nausea
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy to treat emotional may involve the use of talk therapy, including specific approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on identifying negative thoughts and emotions that contribute to emotional pain and then replacing these thoughts with more adaptive, realistic thoughts and behaviors.
Medications
Medications may sometimes be prescribed to address certain symptoms of emotional pain. Such medications may include: Antidepressants, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like Prozac (fluoxetine) and Zoloft (sertraline). Anti-anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines such as Valium (diazepam) and Xanax (alprazolam).
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Sometimes alternative treatments such as acupuncture, Tai chi, yoga, biofeedback, hypnosis, and meditation may also be used to help alleviate symptoms of emotional pain.
Emotional pain can often feel as strong as physical pain and at times can even cause symptoms of pain throughout the body. It can also have a detrimental impact on both short-term and long-term mental well-being, so getting appropriate help and treatment is important.
Because emotional pain can be so distressing, people often turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including drugs and alcohol. The problem is that while these methods might provide short-term relief, they cause greater damage in the long run.
Some healthier ways to manage your symptoms of emotional pain can include:
•Talking to someone: Social support is critical for emotional well-being, and talking to a trusted person, whether its a good friend or a counselor, can help.
•Exercising: Physical activity has been shown to be effective for improving mood, so it can be a good way to help deal with feelings of emotional pain. Blowing off feelings of anger with a run around the block is a better choice than acting out aggressively. Taking an afternoon stroll can do more to lift your mood than scrolling endlessly through social media posts.
•Practicing mindfulness: Mindfulness, a mental practice that involves focusing on the present moment, can be useful when you are trying to cope with difficult emotions such as anxiety, grief, sadness, and anger. The process involves not only becoming more aware of your emotions but also stress learning to accept and let go of the need to control or eliminate these emotions.
- Margarita Tartakovsky, MS
- Accept your emotional experience. In times of stress, it’s often easy to spend a lot of time resisting the reality of the situation. You might catch yourself wondering things like
- Keep an emotional toolkit on hand. In a moment of distress, you may feel so overwhelmed that you temporarily forget about the coping strategies you usually turn to.
- Add in gentle self-talk. Emotional overload can activate your inner critic and unleash a litany of negative self-talk: “You’re being ridiculous.” “Get a hold of yourself.”
- Embrace your values. “Values can be a great guiding light when life feels dark,” says Clements. Your values can nudge you toward helpful, productive actions in moments where you feel like you have zero control.
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