If you had physical pain, would you swap it for emotional pain? If you had psychological pain, would you swap it for physical pain?

[CTB Fella]

As pet the title, really?

I have severe psychological pain, coupled with tinnitus & insomnia, intrusive thoughts, anxiety in the form of OCD and depression.

Not wanting to offend anyone, but I'd switch it for physical pain.

Painkillers work (to an extent) whereas no medication helps with my current issues.

How about you?

If you could (wave a wand) and switch, would you?

Please explain your response.

Love to all.

 

[jodes2]

I think I'd stick with mental, and tinnitus. They can kinda be ignored. I've never been able to ignore physical pain, and painkillers just don't work normally. Migraines were hell on earth

 

[Anonymus]

I have both and I see no advantage of one over the other, in fact I see them as one interdependent thing, the physical part constantly feeding back to the emotional part.. it never ends.
//
Tinc les dues coses i no veig cap avantatge de l'una sobre l'altre, de fet les veig com una sola cosa interdependent, retroalimentant-se continuament la part física amb la part emocional.. no s'acaba mai.

 

[CTB Fella]

I think I'd stick with mental, and tinnitus. They can kinda be ignored. I've never been able to ignore physical pain, and painkillers just don't work normally. Migraines were hell on earth

I'd love for you to have my level of tinnitus for just one week, then come back to me to tell me you can "ignore" it.

And don't even get me started on constant, bullying, intrusive thoughts.

You really should think, before you commit.

 

[Szinuus]

I'd swap my physical pain for emotional pain with no doubt.

 

[CTB Fella]

I'd swap my physical pain for emotional pain with no doubt.

Wish I could swap with you for a week, even if just for comparison.

 

[Jarni]

I'd swap my physical pain for emotional pain with no doubt.

Same

 

[puppet_nihilist]

Life becomes very dreadful for me whenever I get even slightly feverish. Of course anxiety and depression are hell, but even slight pains amplify all my psychological issues. So in essence, for me physical pain is an all-in-one deal because it amplifies fears I usually forget I have lol

 

[exhaustedanonymous]

i feel like its a grass is greener on the other side kind of thing. as much as having bpd is disabling, a physical disability could be worse.. idk. i really dont know

 

[Per Ardua Ad Astra]

I'd swap my physical pain for emotional pain with no doubt.

Same

Same

I'd give anything for a healthy functioning physical body

 

[Anonymus]

I have very mild tinnitus, but sometimes they increase in intensity and it seems like I have an orchestra in my head (there are several sounds at the same time).. still they are not annoying. Only once, years ago, I spent three months with tinnitus that sounded like a jackhammer inside my head (out of those three months there was a week where I was almost crying because I couldn't take it anymore because it was really bad ).

The problem is that I accumulate a lot of small unimportant things and all together they make a big problem.

//

Jo tinc acúfens molt lleus, però de vegades pugen d'intensitat i sembla que tingui una orquestra al cap (hi han diversos sons alhora).. tot i així no són molestos. Només una vegada, fa anys, vaig estar tres mesos amb un acúfen que sonava com un martell pneumàtic d'obra dins el cap (d'aquests tres mesos va haver una setmana que gairebé estava ploriquejant perquè no podía més, ja que era realment punyent).

El problema es que se m'acumulen un munt de petites coses sense importància i totes juntes fan un gran problema.

 

[jodes2]

I'd love for you to have my level of tinnitus for just one week, then come back to me to tell me you can "ignore" it.

And don't even get me started on constant, bullying, intrusive thoughts.

You really should think, before you commit.

As for the tinnitus, I have to have the TV turned up pretty loud to overcome it. And it's always there. But honestly I just get used to it.

I'm sorry about your intrusive thoughts. What kind of intrusive thoughts do you get?

The worst part of my depression is I struggle to enjoy anything. But I still manage to keep myself somewhat busy. And my social anxiety is crippling, I just avoid talking to people. But I get used to the loneliness somewhat. It's better than migraines or toothache or gut pain for example

 

[CTB Fella]

As for the tinnitus, I have to have the TV turned up pretty loud to overcome it. And it's always there. But honestly I just get used to it.

I'm sorry about your intrusive thoughts. What kind of intrusive thoughts do you get?

The worst part of my depression is I struggle to enjoy anything. But I still manage to keep myself somewhat busy. And my social anxiety is crippling, I just avoid talking to people. But I get used to the loneliness somewhat. It's better than migraines or toothache or gut pain for example

Sounds like you can cope with, and are coping with, all of your ailments.

I'm happy for you.

I, however, am destroyed by tinnitus, intrusive thoughts, OCD anxiety and depression.

So much so that I've been sectioned (Section 2 of the MHA) 26 times, in 5 years, following serious suicide attempts.

Wishing you well.

I have very mild tinnitus, but sometimes they increase in intensity and it seems like I have an orchestra in my head (there are several sounds at the same time).. still they are not annoying. Only once, years ago, I spent three months with tinnitus that sounded like a jackhammer inside my head (out of those three months there was a week where I was almost crying because I couldn't take it anymore because it was really bad ).

The problem is that I accumulate a lot of small unimportant things and all together they make a big problem.

//

Jo tinc acúfens molt lleus, però de vegades pugen d'intensitat i sembla que tingui una orquestra al cap (hi han diversos sons alhora).. tot i així no són molestos. Només una vegada, fa anys, vaig estar tres mesos amb un acúfen que sonava com un martell pneumàtic d'obra dins el cap (d'aquests tres mesos va haver una setmana que gairebé estava ploriquejant perquè no podía més, ja que era realment punyent).

El problema es que se m'acumulen un munt de petites coses sense importància i totes juntes fan un gran problema.

"I spent three months with tinnitus that sounded like a jackhammer inside my head (out of those three months there was a week where I was almost crying because I couldn't take it anymore because it was really bad )."

Imagine that, all day, every day, then tell me you'd choose physical pain.

 

[breakingpoint]

I'd swap my emotional pain for physical pain in a blink of an eye.

 

[Anonymus]

Sembla que podeu fer front i fer front a totes les vostres malalties.

Estic content per tu.

Tanmateix, estic destruït pels acúfens, els pensaments intrusius, l'ansietat i la depressió del TOC.

Tant és així que he estat apartat (Secció 2 del MHA) 26 vegades, en 5 anys, després de greus intents de suïcidi.

Us desitjo bé.

"Vaig passar tres mesos amb acúfens que em sonaven com un martell de martell dins del cap (d'aquells tres mesos hi va haver una setmana en què gairebé plorava perquè ja no podia més perquè estava molt malament ).

Imagina't que, tot el dia, cada dia, després digues-me que triaries el dolor físic.

I don't want to replace suffering with suffering, give me health and I will say yes, but suffering for the sake of suffering I gain nothing.
Both psychological and physical suffering taken to the extreme are cruel to live with and make you want to die and neither is an alternative to the other.

//

No vull substituïr patiment per patiment, dona'm salut i et diré que si, però patir per patir no guanyo res.
Tant el patiment psicològic com el físic portats a l'extrem són cruels de viure i fan que desitgis morir i cap d'ells és l'alternativa de l'altre.

 

[RUPA]

Yes. dont necessarily think physical pain is less worse than psychological pain. both of them are horrible and are different person to person case by case and is fairly subjective area so no one can affirm one is harder than the other.
But I would choose physical pain over mental emotional one cuz this world acknowledges physical pain better and physical pain makes a better valid basis for assisted death

 

[FuneralCry]

Any kind of pain is something so awful and unnecessary no matter what, but I believe that what is the worst type of pain depends on the severity of it. To say that one is worse in general would be invalidating the other, I did originally view physical pain as being worse but it just depends I guess, but existing certainly is torture and I certainly believe that the better option to any kind of pain, at least for me is to not exist at all.
Just the fact that pain exists and that humans have the potential to feel extreme pain with no limit as to how horrific it can get is enough to make me want to die. In fact I would wish to die no matter what, I simply despise life itself.

 

[downndone2]

I have both but would rather take the physical and give away the psych pain. This anxiety and depression has me so screwed up

 

[Forever Sleep]

I don't know. Gallstone attacks and a gallstone in the bile duct is the worst physical pain I've had. That's not the worst pain a human can experience though supposedly. I did a search to see whether there was anything worse to worry about- and there is plenty. Out of interest- what is the worst physical illness or injury you have had?

My Grandma was in physical pain pretty much every day of her life and it changed her. I'm certain that one influences the other- I feel sure that intense physical pain messes with your thinking and emotions. I'm sure that psychological conditions lead to physical health problems.

It's very difficult to answer unless WE have actually experienced the worst physical and psychological/emotional pain there is. How do we know we even have when we've experienced it? Some people have greater tolerances physically or psychologically. Some people go through hell in their lives but make it through. Others break down at the slightest thing. We're all built differently.

If someone gave me the choice- I'd tell them to go f@!k themselves. They're clearly a sadist and I don't want to experience either. Personally though- my physical pain experiences have been more unbearable- I DEFINITELY don't want to try them again. Still- it's not to belittle psycholigical or emotional pain- I just personally haven't perhaps experienced them at their absolute worst.

ALL pain is shit though- let's be honest. Plus- why not just wish to have no pain- rather than envy what you suppose might be a 'lesser' amount?

 

[outrider567]

It depends what you mean by physical pain--I would take and trade some some physical pain or discomfort anytime, instead of experiencing the emotional pain and torment of seeing my girlfriend die

 

[HayBunny23]

Aha! I'm already blessed with both. If I could, I'd swap the intensity. Cripple my body with pain and have a little, somewhat manageable, depression. I can fight thru the physical pain, I can't fight my brain. Plus I might be able to catch a break from the pain with the right drugs.

 

[alivefornow]

Let me describe my experience today.

My psychiatrist changed my pills. Today is the first day of this new stage. I'm feeling less suicidal urges, but I'm still suicidal on a rational level. I WANT to die, even though I don't feel it in my bones the desire to jump or get hit by cars. Less intrusive thoughts.

The thing is, I am shaking, throwing up and freezing. My teeth feel like glass. I'm extremely hungry yet unable to eat enough.

I still think of myself as a complete failure and disappointment and still think the day I CTB is approaching. I still can't see how I could feel anything good or happy in this life. We'll see how things develop from now and onwards.

 

[noname223]

I think I have the minority position. Due to bipolar I had extreme psychosmatic pain and extreme depression. Maybe it is hard to differentiate. But for me the psychosomatic aspect of the depression was by far the worst. Way worse than the extreme depression. This pain was in my legs and it felt like something was tearing me apart 24/7 for a half a year. I was extremely agitated.
It even continued 1,5 more years till it vanished. The pain was unbelievable and I am still shaking when I am remembering it. I plan to kill myself when this insane pain returns.

 

[leeloosnow]

agreed, there's a lot of circumstance that comes into play considering both aspects... pain and suffering flat out suck either way. at times i've been mentally better i could cope with physical things better, and when I'm worse, well, just makes it all worse. i hope my time comes soon too

 

[Lonerzepam]

I have both very bad...weed would solve both of these problems for me...but I have severe HPPD and braindamage so I can't smoke anymore. My whole fucking live is a curse.

 

[54378]

The way I see it, whether pain is mental or physical, it is still pain. If there is no difference in severity, then I can't say that I'd rather have one form of pain over the other.

 

[AnonymousS]

As pet the title, really?

I have severe psychological pain, coupled with tinnitus & insomnia, intrusive thoughts, anxiety in the form of OCD and depression.

Not wanting to offend anyone, but I'd switch it for physical pain.

Painkillers work (to an extent) whereas no medication helps with my current issues.

How about you?

If you could (wave a wand) and switch, would you?

Please explain your response.

Love to all.

I remember reading somewhere that people with severe depression, during that episode of illness the area of the brain called the thalumus which deals with physical pain, is actually activated. I would assume it's probably the same for other diagnoses too and major trauma. I have had chronic pain which is now gone, it was neuropathic and even morphine could not touch it, it was a daily living hell. I had the depression alongside it, and attempted twice whilst being treated for it. Physical pain can be significant, and erodes your quality of life as much as psychological.

 

[CTB Fella]

I'm already in both types of pain to varying degrees 24/7. Do I get to choose something else?

Yes, CTB.

 

[another40seconds]

i would absolutely swap my psychological pain for physical pain. i have a relatively easy time dealing with physical pain because of some experiences from childhood. if i could swap my physical and emotional pain i would do it.

 

[CTB Fella]

That's exactly what I would like and intend to do, but, uh... Others reading this thread might interpret your comment the wrong way, I'm afraid.

You asked for another option, and I gave you one.