Emotional Pain actually physical

[andrewducker]

Brain scans carried out on volunteers showed that when they suffered a social snub, the brain's "pain centre" went into overdrive. The finding suggests that any emotional stress, such as the demise of a relationship or the loss of a loved one, might be far more closely linked to real pain than previously thought.

More here.

Comments

[rainstorm.livejournal.com]

i can certainly believe that. sometimes when i've had really bad emotional stuff i've felt physically sick and also sometimes like i've been punched int he stomach.

maybe i'm just over emotional.

[neriedes.livejournal.com]

Yes indeed. Like when you get your heart broken you clutch at your heart because there is this aching pain in your chest.

*goes off and sobs uncontrollably*
:)

[andrewducker]

Funny, we were just talking about you.

[neriedes.livejournal.com]

????????
*paranoid*

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing that this data ties into the fact that anyone whose long-term romantic partner has died is significantly more likely to die within the next six months (excluding suicide).