Can Emotional Pain Manifest as Physical Pain?
Chronic pain can be difficult to diagnose, especially when it is without a visible cause. The truth is, sometimes your emotional state can affect your physical state through the manifestation of pain without an obvious cause. To learn more about the link between physical and emotional pain and wellness, keep reading.
Pain as an Emotion
Just like other emotions, such as happiness, fear, and love, pain is an emotional, psychological response that can be triggered not only by internal factors, but also external factors. While the feeling of pain is most often triggered by a physical ailment of the body and is your mind’s way of alerting you to something wrong, it can also be triggered by external and mental events.
Pain and Mental Conditions
Numerous studies in both Europe and the U.S. have found significant links between pain and emotional state. As many as 70% of those suffering from depression also experience some form of chronic pain. Additionally, many other mental or emotional states can cause unsolicited pain, including post-traumatic stress disorder. There are well-known links between emotional pain and trauma, such as abuse, and the development of chronic pain and other symptoms.
Treatment of Mental Pain
Because pain is a neurochemical response in the brain, for some patients, pain can be effectively managed with antidepressant medication, especially in cases with no identifiable cause. Additionally, distraction is a good treatment for pain, as it gives the mind an alternative on which to focus. Perhaps the most effective treatment for emotionally induced chronic pain is to treat the individual as a whole, addressing the mental issues at the root of the chronic pain to significantly improve overall quality of life.
The Pain & Wellness Center of Peabody focuses on managing chronic pain by diagnosing and treating the root of the problem for overall wellness and mental and physical health. Our experts have the experience and knowledge to help you achieve a happier, full life free from pain. For more information, please visit us online or call (978) 826-7230.
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