Emotional/psych pain

[ConfusedClouds]

This is gonna sound ridiculous, especially coming from a supposed 'adult'. Hopefully you guys won't judge and can provide some insight from your widely varied experiences.

I genuinely don't feel like I understand the concepts of emotional or mental pain. What is it? I must experience it but I just can't identify it. I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Physical pain is clear to me and its something I can feel and ignore or address or push through depending on severity but can any of you explain (in layman's terms/idiot proof please) emotional/ psychological pain.

Thanks and supportive hugs in advance

 

[Meteora]

This is gonna sound ridiculous, especially coming from a supposed 'adult'. Hopefully you guys won't judge and can provide some insight from your widely varied experiences.

There is no such thing as adult or child-like question imo.

I genuinely don't feel like I understand the concepts of emotional or mental pain. What is it? I must experience it but I just can't identify it. I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Physical pain is clear to me and its something I can feel and ignore or address or push through depending on severity but can any of you explain (in layman's terms/idiot proof please) emotional/ psychological pain.

Hm. I understand that you don't understand bc I felt like that for a very long time. I was completely disconnected from any feeling for years.
Imagine you lose someone or even something that you loved very much. The state that you are in then is emotional pain.
Maybe not a good example.
It can also be that someone treats you badly. That can cause emotional pain, too.

 

[ForgottenAgain]

If I understood correctly you're asking what emotional or psychological pain feels like, so you can identify it?

The feeling I get the most is sadness and I'd describe it as a weight on my lungs which makes me want to sigh, irritation on my eyes that makes me cry. These are the physical manifestations of sadness, then emotionally I feel like I don't want to do anything, that nothing will bring me joy, that my life isn't fulfilling and bad things are happening all the time. A sense of being lost and disappointed for being in this state, don't know how best to describe it.

I hope I got your question right but please let me know if this is not what you meant.

 

[penguinl0v3s]

This is gonna sound ridiculous, especially coming from a supposed 'adult'. Hopefully you guys won't judge and can provide some insight from your widely varied experiences.

A lot of people struggle with this, especially in men because of the way society judges them for being emotional, so you're not asking a ridiculous question at all! The term for it is "alexithymia," which means emotional blindness: a neuropsychological condition that makes it difficult to recognize, express, and describe one's emotions.

I genuinely don't feel like I understand the concepts of emotional or mental pain. What is it? I must experience it but I just can't identify it. I don't really know what I'm trying to say. Physical pain is clear to me and its something I can feel and ignore or address or push through depending on severity but can any of you explain (in layman's terms/idiot proof please) emotional/ psychological pain.

Thanks and supportive hugs in advance

If you're into videos, Dr. K is a psychiatrist who is actually really competent at his job and he explains what it is and how to overcome it

 

[ConfusedClouds]

Yes you all got the question - pretty clueless over here looking for a bit of understanding. Thanks for your responses/time/thought!

There is no such thing as adult or child-like question imo.

Imagine you lose someone or even something that you loved very much. The state that you are in then is emotional pain.

Ah ok I think I can relate to this feeling - a few examples have come to mind.

A sense of being lost and disappointed for being in this state

This happens so often!!!

The term for it is "alexithymia," which means emotional blindness

WOW! That video! So so so relatable! First time something actually lines up significantly, not just a few crossover points.

• No purpose - just bumbling along lost. Absolutely no clue where I'd be in 5 years (even less so now on this site!!)
• Need external motivation for anything/everything to get done
• Relationships are non-existent or a shit show if they develop anywhere or I just end up messing people around. They claim I don't but I just know 'something' isn't right. Isolation/avoidance.
• Can't be 'assertive' without escalating to arguments or 'tantrums' and frustration very inappropriately a lot of the time. More noticable/less acceptable now I'm meant to be 'adult'. Again, isolate/avoid.
• Guessing at 'emotional' words to use from learned experience (what others typically might say/write) rather than actually knowing that's what I personally mean
• Social anxiety but not really - more 'freezing' and not knowing what to say rather than not being able to socialise - always been ok when conversation is factual or logical (e.g talking about work stuff)
• Dabbling in alcohol and exercise too much (unsure if full addictions), but not good coping mechanisms with no understanding why
• SH but to feel something physical

Can relate this all to so many previous fuck ups. All just more and more noticable now I am meant to be 'grown up'.

Have seen alexithymia mentioned before but haven't been convinced, but I line up so much with the stuff in that video.