How to Cope With Hurt and Pain?

Hurt and pain carry a profound impact, impacting emotional and mental health and mostly result as outcomes of unresolved hurt. Unresolved hurt can lead to anger, thoughts of revenge and having a negative outlook and focus towards life; we may find more problems and may continue to complain than praise. Our physical health can also take a hit through increase in blood pressure, body aches and headaches, and can intensify already prevalent pain.

Unresolved hurt may also cause difficult interactions with people; straining relationships. Trust can get impacted causing one to distance themselves from others, leaving one feeling isolated and disconnected. It may also leave us conflicted with our own perceptions and cause confusions, but this also opens up the door for forgiveness and growth, and building up resilience.

Coping and Healing through Hurt

• Psychological strategies for managing hurt feelings (e.g., emotional regulation, cognitive reframing)
• The role of forgiveness and reconciliation in healing emotional hurt
• Importance of social support and communication in recovery
• Therapeutic approaches addressing hurt (e.g., narrative therapy, mindfulness)

References:

• Lumley, M. A., Cohen, J. L., Borszcz, G. S., Cano, A., Radcliffe, A. M., Porter, L. S., … Keefe, F. J. (2021). Pain and emotion: a Biopsychosocial Review of Recent Research. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(9), 942–968.