How Emotional Pain Affects Your Body

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.1

Symptoms of Emotional Pain

Symptoms of emotional pain can include feelings of:

• Deep sorrow, sadness, or depression
• Grief
• Intense distress
• Loneliness and isolation
• Negative emotions
• Panic
• Rage
• Shame
• Worthlessness

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 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.2

What Causes Emotional Pain?

Emotional pain can stem from many sources, and each person’s situation and experiences are unique. Everyone may experience these feelings from time to time. However, when these feelings are intense and persistent, they can interfere with your ability to function and perform normal daily activities.

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.

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.3

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).

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.4

Shame and Guilt

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.5

If not addressed, prolonged feelings of shame and guilt may lead to physical symptoms.

Emotional Pain Can Have Lingering Effects

Psychological pain can also contribute to or worsen physical pain in different areas of the body.6 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-harm7
• Suicidal thoughts

Such behaviors are often an attempt to diffuse or escape the intense dysphoria caused by emotional pain.

Physical vs. 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.8 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 part of a broader pain continuum.9 Some types of pain are purely physical, while others are purely emotional; but many times, pain lies somewhere in the middle.

Treatments That Can Help Emotional Pain

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.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy to treat emotional may involve the use of talk therapy, including specific approaches such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

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 can help provide relief from emotional pain. Some alternative treatments that may help alleviate symptoms of emotional pain include:

• Acupuncture
• Tai chi
• Yoga
• Biofeedback
• Hypnosis
• Meditation

How to Cope With 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. That’s why getting appropriate help and treatment is important.

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. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone who cares about you when you are going through an emotionally painful experience.

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.10 Blowing off feelings of anger with a run around the block is a better choice than acting out aggressively.

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. This process can help you to become more aware of your emotions.

Not only can you become more aware of what you are feeling, mindfulness also stresses learning to accept and let go of the need to control or eliminate these emotions.

Takeaways

Emotional pain is rooted in the mind, but it can hurt just as much as physical pain. Sadness, anger, anxiety, shame, guilt, and other factors can all play a role in the experience of this type of pain. While it may not stem from a physical source, emotional pain can still have serious health effects. In some cases, it can even contribute to feelings of physical discomfort and pain. It also increases the risk of problems with substance use, unhealthy coping mechanisms, risky behaviors, and suicide.

If symptoms of emotional pain are causing significant distress or interfering with your daily life, talk to your doctor or mental health professional.