Recent findings have demonstrated through the use of fMRI imaging (functional magnetic resonance imaging is used to determine which area of the brain is activated by neuronal firing during a specific task) that 2 distinct areas of the brain are activated when an individual suffers from physical pain and when an individual suffers from emotional pain.

The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dorsal meaning on top, anterior meaning front) which forms part of the limbic system from which stem emotions and behaviour is activated in both types of pain. The anterior insula which is part of the insular lobe (insula means island - this part of the brain has just recently been studied in neuroscience, our common understanding thus far is that it is involved in desires, cravings, addictions, emotions and regulating the body’s temperature) also showed to be involved in both types of pain felt.

So if our brain doesn’t necessarily know the difference between the type of pain as all it feels is pain in those regions, and pain has a tendency to be closely linked to memory of previous pain then it might be safe to say that these findings hold some level of accuracy from a psychosocial understanding of human beings.

While the above is based on clinical research, the comments below are pure speculation. When we experience pain due to movement, known as physical pain, our brain does not know the difference in types of aches. That being said, when we are feeling out of sorts which we have been in the past few years, to some this pain can manifest itself in the body in ways that our brain doesn’t quite know how to differentiate what that discomfort means.

Knowing that feelings of pain in one part of our brain can affect surrounding brain structures involved in many activities of our nervous system helps us understand that physical pain does affect us emotionally and emotional pain does affect us physically. Furthermore, both types of pain cause distress and both share a similar representation in the somatosensory brain systems. Finding solace in the fact that we are muddling through as best we can brings comfort.

Join us as we navigate through our feelings of discomfort and find ease in what used to be considered painful

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