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Emotional pain vs. physical pain: Did you know the surprising neuroscientific connection behind them?
Emotional pain, or psychological pain, is an unpleasant feeling of psychological origin. Psychology pioneer Edwin Schneiderman once described psychological pain as "how painful it is for you as a human being. It is psychological pain; psychological torture." Such a definition allows us to realize that although this kind of pain It cannot be quantified in a physical way, but it is ubiquitous in many human experiences.
Psychological pain is seen as an inevitable part of human existence.
Psychological pain can be expressed in a wide range of categories, from emotional pain and social pain to a sense of soul tearing. These terms for psychological pain are not identical, yet the various descriptions reflect an intense and unpleasant experience. People often interweave these psychological pains with physical pains.
Sources of psychological pain
Schneiderman believes that psychological pain originates from unmet psychological needs. These needs include the desire for love, independence, belonging, and achievement. He noted that unmet needs can lead to a variety of psychological problems, especially at a young age. Neglectful parenting often prevents children from developing healthy relationships in the future, which can in turn be linked to mental illness throughout their lives.
The lack of psychological needs may result in an inability to meet basic human needs throughout life.
Social pain in social psychology refers to the psychological pain caused by the loss or threat of social connections. Loss of a loved one, humiliation, or other social shocks are concrete manifestations of social pain. From an evolutionary perspective, psychological distress can prompt people to reassess actual or potential social problems before they affect their ability to survive.
Exploration of neuropsychology
Research shows that psychological pain and physical pain have a common neurological basis. The anterior cingulate cortex and the prefrontal cortex are two brain areas that are often cited in both forms of pain. These findings suggest that pain may be a continuum from entirely physiological to entirely psychological.
For example, painkillers have a similar inhibitory effect on social rejection as they do on physical pain.
Some studies have shown that taking acetaminophen can suppress activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and insular cortex, an effect similar to that of physical pain when experiencing social rejection. This prompted further thinking about how mental distress interacts with physiological responses.
The emotional pain of borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is often considered the disorder that produces the most intense emotional distress. Such patients often experience severe emotional distress and may even experience irrational feelings of shame and loneliness. Research shows that such patients are particularly sensitive to feelings of negative emotions and may engage in self-harm or extreme behavior to escape these pains.
Suicidal ideation and behavior among patients with borderline personality disorder are much higher than those among patients with other mental illnesses.
Although the specific injury rate of suicide is relatively low in the general population, suicidal ideation and behavior among patients with borderline personality disorder reaches 60%-70%. The ubiquity of this condition demonstrates the fundamental nature and urgency of emotional pain.
Conclusion
From psychological pain to physical pain, this interweaving allows us to deeply understand that pain is not just superficial feelings, but also includes deep emotions and psychological states. With the development of science, we may be able to better decipher the nature of pain in the future. So, will these pains allow us to re-understand the meaning of existence?
