Emotional pain is pain that originates from non-physical sources. This emotional pressure can be the result of the actions of other people. Other times, it may be the result of regret, sadness, or loss. In other cases, it may result from an underlying mental health condition such as depression or anxiety.
Regardless of the cause, this emotional pain can be intense and significantly affect many different areas of your life.
While it is often considered less serious than physical pain, it is important that emotional pain is taken seriously. There are a number of common feelings associated with emotional pain that can take a toll on your physical health.
Also Known As: Psychic pain, spiritual pain, psychalgia, emotional suffering, psychological pain, algopsychalia, psychotic illness, or mental illness.
In some cases, feelings of emotional pain can cause physical symptoms for which there is no identifiable physical cause. When the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors associated with these somatic symptoms result in significant distress or impairment of a person’s ability to function, they may be diagnosed with somatic symptom disorder.
Emotional Pain Impacts
Psychological pain can also contribute to or worsen physical pain in different areas of the body. Some types of physical pain that may be linked to emotional distress include:
-Diarrhoea
- Headache
- Headache
- Muscle pain, particularly in the neck
- Nausea
- Pain in arms and legs
- Stomach ache or digestive disorders
- The emotional pain may also be accompanied by:
Aggression and violence Alcohol or substance use Suicide attempts Compulsive behavior including shopping, gambling and sex addiction Eating disorders Risky behavior Self-harm Suicide thoughts Such behavior is often an attempt to spread or escape self from intense dysphoria caused by emotional pain.
Physical Pain vs. Emotional
Although physical pain and emotional pain are different, research suggests that the two types of pain may share some neurological similarities. Emotional and physical pain is linked to changes in the prefrontal cortex and the 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 set of pain. Some kinds of pain are purely physical while others are purely emotional; but more often than not, the pain lies in the middle.
