Why feelings hurt

Create your free account or Sign in to continue. See Subscription Options. Discover World-Changing Science. Get smart. Sign up for our email newsletter. Sign Up. Support science journalism. Knowledge awaits. See Subscription Options Already a subscriber? Create Account See Subscription Options. List of Partners vendors. 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:. In some cases, feelings of emotional pain may lead to physical symptoms that do not have an identifiable physical cause.

When these thoughts, feelings, or behaviors that are connected to somatic symptoms result in significant distress or interruption in a person's ability to function, they may be diagnosed with a somatic symptom disorder.

There are a number of different emotions that can lead to psychological pain. Everyone may experience these feelings from time to time, but when such feelings are intense and persistent, they can interfere with a person's ability to function and perform normal daily activities.

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.

Anger is a basic human emotion. It releases adrenaline, which increases muscle tension and speeds up breathing. It can be mobilizing at times; however, if it's not adequately managed, this response can lead to long-term physical consequences. As with anger, anxiety and fear both also release adrenaline. 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. Shame and guilt often result in a feeling of "butterflies" or weight in the stomach.

Common among people with addictions, shame leads to and is worsened by the need for secrecy. If not addressed, prolonged feelings of shame and guilt may lead to physical symptoms. Psychological pain can also contribute to or worsen physical pain in different areas of the body. Emotional pain can also be accompanied by:. Such behaviors are often an attempt to diffuse or escape the intense dysphoria caused by emotional pain. While physical pain 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 prefrontal cortex and cingulate cortex. Some researchers argue that rather than viewing emotional pain and physical pain as fundamentally different, they should be conceptualized as both being part of a broader pain continuum.

They are a C-shaped swath of tissue within the brain called the anterior cingulate cortex and an area located deep within the temporal lobes called the anterior insula. But, it may not be as simple as that. In , Tor Wager , a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Colorado Boulder, and a team of researchers trained a computer to analyze brain scans and develop templates of brain activity for physical pain and social rejection. When the computer analyzed a new scan, it could tell percent of the time whether it was a brain in physical pain or a brain experiencing social loss.

The nervous system, in turn, interacts with the rest of your body. Alexis Wnuk Alexis is the science writer and editor for BrainFacts. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in with degrees in neuroscience and English. Acetaminophen reduces social pain: behavioral and neural evidence. Psychological Science. Eisenberger NI. Annual Review of Psychology. Why rejection hurts: what social neuroscience has revealed about the brain's response to social rejection.

The Handbook of Social Neuroscience p. Social neuroscience and health: neurophysiological mechanisms linking social ties with physical health. Nature Neuroscience.