Pain, according to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated (or similar to that associated) with actual or potential tissue damage. However, not all pain experiences have a physical origin; pain has other dimensions or components that play a fundamental role in how pain is perceived and experienced. Based on this, we classify pain into 3 types: physical pain, emotional pain, and psychological pain.
Difference between emotional pain and psychological pain
Emotional pain is a subjective experience in which the person has a wound that no one can see. The causes can be different: unrequited love, a breakup, a change of city, being fired from a job... Regardless of the cause, it originates from not knowing how to manage life changes and not having the necessary resources to cope with the new situation.
Psychic, psychological, or psychogenic pain may seem like emotional pain, but it is not exactly the same. Psychological pain is known as the somatization of pain (or "persistent somatoform pain disorder"), which originates from an emotional state (stress, anxiety, sadness, etc.) and manifests physically or in the form of illness.
Emotional pain of unrequited love
Unrequited love is a clear example of emotional pain, an experience that, although not manifesting in a visible wound, can be just as intense as physical pain. Rejection, loss, and disappointment can activate the same brain regions involved in physical pain, showing that emotional suffering is a legitimate form of pain.
It is important to differentiate between pain and suffering. While pain is a natural response of the body to an assault or threat, suffering is the interpretation we make of that experience. Suffering arises from our resistance to pain, from fighting against what we feel, or from the difficulty in accepting reality as it is. In this sense, while we may not always be able to avoid pain, we can learn to manage suffering, transforming it into an opportunity for growth and resilience.
"Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional" (Siddhartha Gautama)
Facing emotional pain requires recognizing it. It is not a sign of weakness but part of the complex human experience. Learning to deal with emotional pain is key to mental health and well-being, reminding us that, just like physical pain, it can heal over time, with proper support and self-care.
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