FACT:
The brain does not recognize the difference between physical and emotional pain.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR US:
If we see a friend get cut and bleed all over the place, we rightly freak out and offer help. Yet, when we see someone in emotional pain, they usually pretend they’re not hurt, and we pretend we don’t notice. – There are a lot of stigmas around emotional pain, while few exist for physical pain. Imagine if someone broke their arm or dislocated their shoulder, and after coming to you screaming in pain, you replied, “You know, maybe you should just change your attitude about your shoulder,” or “Just stay positive, you’ll be back to new in no time.” Unfortunately, for a lot of people who suffer from depression, anxiety or PTSD, this is what happens.
