Mental pain is a natural side effect after a traumatic experience. Memories can trigger emotional reactions where feelings of grief are felt long after the event. Mental suffering such as grief is a normal reaction of the body to deal with loss. Long-term grief can become deeply entrenched and make daily life difficult. Anyone who struggles with emotional pain for an unnaturally long time should seek treatment from a specialist.

 

Typical triggers of mental pain

Medical diagnosis: Being diagnosed with a terminal illness is a traumatic experience that involves going through a number of different emotional phases on the way to accepting the inevitable. Not only the sick person themselves, but also their relatives will grieve and suffer. They suffer at the thought of having to live without their loved one, while at the same time wanting to make the most of the time they have left. It is not only fatal illnesses that cause emotional pain. It is also a traumatic experience when life is suddenly changed due to an illness.

 

Suicide: The unexpected suicide of a loved one causes emotional turmoil. Many questions remain forever unanswered. You may feel guilt, despair or anger as well as grief. Grief caused by a suicide can cause emotional complications as you constantly wonder if or how you could have prevented it. This makes it particularly difficult to accept the loss of the person.

 

Death: The death of a loved one triggers intense grief. It hurts that the deceased had to give up their life. A death is always perceived as unfair. Children learn early on what grief means when they have a pet. Children are particularly close to their pets, which is why their death hits them hard, as they first have to realise that life is not infinite.

 

Divorce and the end of a relationship: The end of a romantic relationship interrupts the normal course of life. Small everyday things are full of memories of happy times with your partner. The end of a relationship can evoke feelings of betrayal, anger and hurt.

 

Loss of employment: A job is an important part of life. Income determines lifestyle and the workplace determines social contact. Many people identify with their job, which is why losing it can hit them particularly hard. The loss of a job can lead to hopelessness, despair and anxiety about the future.