Episode3 Segment 2 - How can feelings affect your pain?
Fast Fact
Emotions can
affect our
experience of pain
Just as emotions affect our bodies, so they can also affect our experience of pain.
Sometimes when we feel certain emotions our pain can appear worse, and this may stop us from doing certain things. For example, you may notice that your pain seems more intense when you are anxious or stressed about a test or exam coming up at school, or when you have had a fight with your parents or friends. Other common emotions linked to pain include sadness, grief and frustration.
Other times, when we are more relaxed or happy, such as when we are on holidays, we might not notice our pain as much. You might find that you are able to do certain activities you cannot always do, and for longer periods of time.
There is more information in Episode 1: Understanding Pain that could help explain how strong feelings can make pain seem worse.
