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Have you ever thought about or wondered how emotional pain affects your body? Emotional pain can be just as debilitating as physical pain, affecting both mental and physical health. Understanding how emotional distress manifests in the body can help you recognize its impact and find effective coping strategies.
Emotional pain arises from non-physical sources and can be triggered by others' actions, personal regret, grief, or loss. It may also stem from mental health conditions like depression or anxiety.
No matter what the cause, this psychological pain can be intense and significantly affect many different areas of your life.
Emotional pain is also sometimes referred to as psychic pain, spiritual pain, psychalgia, emotional sufferings, psychological pain, algopsychalia, soul pain, or mental pain. While it is often dismissed as less serious than physical pain, it is important that emotional pain is taken seriously. A number of common feelings associated with emotional pain can impact physical and mental health.
Some symptoms of emotional pain include: -deep sorrow or depression, -grief, -intense distress, -loneliness and isolation, -negative emotions, -panic, -rage, -shame, and feelings of worthlessness.
In some cases, emotional pain can cause physical symptoms without an identifiable physical cause. When these thoughts, feelings, or behaviors related to somatic symptoms cause significant distress or disrupt a person's ability to function, they might be diagnosed with a somatic symptom disorder.
Emotional pain can arise from various sources, and each person's circumstances and experiences are unique. While everyone might feel emotional pain occasionally, intense and persistent feelings can interfere with daily functioning.
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, -pain in the arms and legs, -stomachache or gastrointestinal upset.
Emotional pain can also be accompanied by: -aggression and violence, -alcohol or substance use, -attempted suicide, -compulsive behaviors including shopping, gambling, and sex addiction, -eating disorders, -risky behaviors, -self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. Such behaviors are often an attempt to diffuse or escape the intense dysphoria caused by emotional pain.
While physical and emotional pain are different, there is research that suggests that both types of pain may share some neurological similarities. Both emotional and physical pain are linked to changes in the prefontal cortex and cingulate cortex.
Some researchers argue that rather than viewing emotional pain and physical pain as fundamentally different, they should be conceptualized as part of a broader pain continuum. Some types of pain are purely physical, while others are purely emotional, but many time, pain lies somewhere in the middle.
Emotional pain is often complex, but there are treatments that can help bring people a sense of relief and comfort. Treatment for emotional pain often involves addressing the underlying source of the symptoms, so treatment often depends upon the individual diagnosis. Psychological conditions such as anxiety and depression may be treated with psychotherapy, medication, or a combination of the two.
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. That's why getting appropriate help and treatment is important.
Social support is critical for emotional well-being, and talking to a trusted person can help. Don't be afraid to reach out to someone who cares about you when you are going through an emotionally painful experience. If you feel you don't have anyone you can reach out to, you can always reach out to Becky and Deb at Together We Can. Our office is at 8 West Church Street and our number is (515) 391-3233.
Becky Brown and Deb Williams are the cofounders of Together We Can, a mental health nonprofit based in Marshalltown.