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Is there a magic pill for when you’ve been dumped?

Scientists have suggested that painkillers might help alleviate the emotional distress caused by rejection in the future.

Researchers have found that both emotional pain and physical pain trigger similar responses in the brain. Some studies indicate that painkillers can effectively decrease emotional suffering, as claimed by the authors.

Experiencing social rejection or being abandoned can elicit such intense reactions that it is processed in the brain regions typically associated with physical pain.

Naomi Eisenberger, the author from the University of California, has explored the intersection of these pain types in her recent research, stating: ‘Rejection is an extremely impactful experience for individuals.’

‘When asked to recall early negative experiences, people often cite feelings of rejection, such as being the last chosen for a team or being excluded from social gatherings.’

She and her colleague identified a link between brain activity in individuals who faced social rejection and those who felt physical pain.

‘While we were conducting our research, we observed how closely the two brain images resembled each other,’ she shared.

Their findings revealed that reactions to both types of pain significantly overlapped within much of the research. Both physical pain and social pain are processed in similar brain regions.

Physical pain consists of two components: the sensory experience of pain and the emotional aspect, which determines the negativity or distress associated with the pain.

It is the emotional aspect of physical pain that aligns with social pain.

Research also proposes that extreme social rejection, such as being dumped, might activate the brain areas responsible for processing the sensory elements of pain—rendering a broken heart as both a physical and emotional experience.

The researchers argued that a connection exists between the two pain forms, as individuals who are more attuned to physical pain often experience heightened sensitivity to social discomfort.

These more sensitive individuals reported feeling more rejected after completing a social exclusion exercise where two other participants in a virtual game of catch neglected to pass the ball.

In one study examined, participants who consumed a painkiller for three weeks experienced fewer hurt feelings compared to those who received a placebo.

Expressing her astonishment at these results, Professor Eisenberger remarked: ‘The conclusion follows logically from the concept that the systems for physical and social pain overlap, yet it remains quite difficult to visualize.’

‘We take medication for physical pain; it isn’t intended to alleviate feelings of social suffering.’

However, she cautioned against using painkillers to address social pain, asserting that rejection could serve a beneficial purpose.

She explained: ‘I believe there’s a reason for this experience—to foster our connections with others.’

‘If we consistently numb our feelings of social rejection, are we more likely to engage in behaviors that lead to rejection, fostering alienation?’

In her future research, she intends to investigate instances when social pain may become overwhelming and warrant treatment, while affirming the legitimacy of the pain experienced by those who undergo social rejection.

Professor Eisenberger noted: ‘We seem to place a higher value on physical pain in comparison to social pain.’

‘This research lends validation. It implies that the pain following experiences of rejection and exclusion is indeed a genuine experience.’

by David Livingstone

 

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