Physical pain such as a bruise or scratch can be easy to detect, but pain caused by social problems can linger on without being noticed. Social pain comes from experiences like isolation, rejection, and betrayal, and though it may not be easily spotted, it cuts through the heart deeply for those undergoing it.
Researchers are beginning to study social pain and rejection, and how it is connected to the physical body. According to these researchers:
Social Rejection Can Cause Physical Sickness. In a 2011 review published in the Current Directions in Psychological Science journal, it was found that social rejection can contribute to poor impulse control and aggression, and can be harmful to health. The researchers found that compared to people with stable social relationships, individuals who experienced social rejection have lowered immune systems and poorer sleep quality.
Social Media Rejection Equally Hurts. Being ignored in person hurts, but being ignored online hurts as much, according to the findings of a 2012 study published in the Computers in Human Behavior journal. Study author Joshua Smyth, PhD, reveals that contrary to their expectations, the responses of the participants to rejection were not manifested through distress, but through numbness and withdrawal or distancing.
The Brain Helps You Cope With Rejection. Social rejection leads to the brain releasing opioids, which are natural painkillers that allow the person to deal with emotional pain. A 2013 study published in the Molecular Psychiatry journal found that individuals who scored highly on the personality trait resilience displayed the highest amount of natural opinoids being released in the body.
The lead author of the study, David T. Hsu, PhD, says, "It is possible that those with depression or social anxiety are less capable of releasing opioids during times of social distress, and therefore do not recover as quickly or fully from a negative social experience."
