If you look into Ozhegov's explanatory dictionary, it becomes clear that suffering is pain or torment of a physical or moral nature. You can also interpret this concept as "enduring", accompanied by passivity.
The meaning of suffering in different fields of knowledge
From the point of view of philosophy, suffering is one of the ten fundamental categories. It has no purpose or justification. Such a test can fall to the lot of absolutely any person, without the use of any laws. At the same time, in the process of healing from mental anguish, wisdom comes to a person
Suffering is one of the key themes in literature. And not in vain. For example, Dostoevsky believed that mental anguish is the only reason for the existence and development of human consciousness. Alexei Remizov claimed that suffering cleanses and inspires a person, making him closer to God.
From a psychological point of view, suffering is an internal conflict. This is the state when two opposing desires or beliefs are born. The state of torment is called the ultimate manifestation of suffering. Psychologists say that such processes threaten human he alth. At the same time, the same situations in different people do not necessarily lead to suffering. If aa person strives for happiness and balance, he, as a rule, endures shocks.
From a religious point of view, suffering is a vivid and objective reflection of reality. Almost all denominations present this state as healing, knowledge, retribution and the path to happiness.
Common Causes of Suffering
Pain and suffering don't just happen out of the blue. There is always some reason for this state of affairs. However, they may be implicit. Here are the most common reasons:
- Unjustified expectations. A person always has some hope about events or people. Nevertheless, others do not always understand what they want, or do not want to do it. If a person's plans and hopes are destroyed, he inevitably begins to think that the whole world is against him, and falls into depression.
- Resentment and betrayal. This reason can also be attributed to the category of unjustified expectations. But unlike the previous case, there are deliberate negative actions of the opponent.
- Striving for the ideal. Under the influence of literary works, cinema or his own illusions, a person forms some perfect model of life, which he tries to create for himself. When an individual realizes the futility of efforts, he ceases to act and move forward. Suffering takes over.
Forms of suffering
If a person has been hurt, mental anguish can manifest itself differently. The following main forms can be distinguished:
- Open. In thatIn this case, a person does not suppress emotions, but actively lets them out. It is worth noting that this is the most acceptable form that can effectively reduce mental anguish without harming mental he alth. Moreover, an open form of suffering, as a rule, is followed by active actions to correct the situation.
- Hidden. It occurs in people who find it difficult to express emotions and feelings. A person keeps everything in himself, hiding the torment from others, thereby aggravating the situation. Moreover, not only the nervous system suffers, but the body as a whole. Cells are destroyed, the work of internal organs is disrupted.
What good is suffering?
When a person's soul hurts because of some unpleasant life events, this is not always a negative phenomenon. From the point of view of psychologists, suffering brings such benefits to a person:
- distraction from worldly fuss and, as a result, purification of thoughts;
- reassessment of values and life priorities;
- softening the soul and developing a sense of compassion for others;
- awareness of the predominance of spiritual comfort over bodily comfort.
How bad is suffering?
When a person says that his soul hurts, this is an alarm signal. Suffering can lead to these negative consequences:
- prolonged mental anguish can cause antipathy towards others, a tendency to tyranny and despotism;
- if a person does not understand the objective cause of suffering, he becomes embittered and aggressive;
- some people become withdrawn and limit contact witharound.
Basic Ways to Overcome Suffering
Human suffering is not something to be ignored. Sometimes effective and timely assistance is vital. There are three main ways to deal with mental anguish and its consequences:
- Medical assistance. Seeing a psychologist is the first and most urgent measure. The specialist will help to understand the nature of suffering and find a way out. All kinds of trainings will help to consolidate the result.
- Religion. Acts as a consolation and helps to find an explanation for the current situation. As a rule, believers interpret suffering as atonement for wrongdoing.
- Attention of others. Feeling compassion, a person experiences mental anguish more easily.
How to deal with suffering from love?
Romantic feelings are one of the most common causes of mental anguish. A person suffering from love, as a rule, becomes depressed, loses faith in himself and in others, begins to feel sorry for himself. Moreover, he in every possible way cultivates such a state in himself. If depression is prolonged, it can be dangerous for mental and physical he alth. You can overcome love suffering through the following measures:
- Search for a hobby. Unspent romantic energy is best channeled into creativity or constructive activity. In addition, being busy with something, a person is distracted from negative thoughts.
- Communicate with friends and close relatives. In this case, a person has a feeling of "need", thereforeunrequited love passes faster and easier.
- Education. The search for new knowledge completely and completely captures the human mind. This may be the study of foreign languages or some other educational courses. Self-improvement will take you up a notch above your lover.
- Cry. Don't hold back your emotions. Tears, screaming, hysteria - all this is hard for the person himself and for those around him. But by letting the negativity out, you heal much faster. After a period of exacerbation, a state of peace and tranquility sets in.
- Physical activity. Sport is the best antidepressant. Aggression comes out through strength or speed exercises. In addition, after a workout, the tone of the body increases and despondency disappears.
But what not to do:
- Search for new relationships. This will be unfair to both the sufferer and the person who has become a new object of sympathy.
- Attend noisy parties. Such activities are not conducive to peace of mind. In addition, if they are accompanied by drinking alcohol, this can only aggravate the condition.
- Take antidepressants. You can use such funds only as directed by a doctor.
- Revenge. Attempting to harm a person under the influence of resentment is a mistake that you are likely to regret.
- Pretend everything is fine. Do not suppress your emotions and do not hide them from loved ones. If you keep everything to yourself, the depressed state can drag on for a long time.
- Trying to get a loved one back. So you go even deeperdrive yourself into depression. Especially if the separation is not caused by external reasons, but by the lack of reciprocity.
How to overcome the suffering of loneliness?
If a person says: "I suffer from loneliness", he, first of all, should understand himself. To overcome depression, answer yourself a few questions:
- Is loneliness a problem? It is possible that you yourself have limited contact with friends, relatives and strangers. It is possible that this is due to some kind of negative experience. Take this state as necessary for self-knowledge and rethinking of life values.
- How long does loneliness last? If your suffering is less than a month old, rest assured that this is a temporary condition.
- Do you like being around people? Perhaps self-isolation is a forced measure associated with the discomfort of communicating with people.
- Can you make a difference? Perhaps you need to be around people more often. Or change some qualities in yourself that prevent you from enjoying communication.
- Are you ready for another person to appear in your personal space? You may need to prepare yourself for this. Imagine how your life and lifestyle will change, and try to accept it.
- Do people like you? Look at yourself (both in appearance and behavior) from the outside. Would you like to communicate with such a person? If not, work on yourself.
- Are you yourself? Perhaps your loneliness is a consequence of the fact that youcreated a certain image for yourself and are afraid that you will be exposed. Take off the mask, be yourself, and it will be much easier for you to connect with people.
Physical suffering
The word "suffer" has more than just a moral connotation. We are talking about real physical pain, which can result from an injury or some kind of disease. In ancient religious cults, physical suffering was used as a substitute for mental anguish on the path to happiness and enlightenment.
Physical suffering is used for healing not only in religious cults, but also in medicine. It is about using painful procedures for the purpose of healing. For example, injections, leeches, jars, mustard plasters and much more. Such an impact activates vital processes in the body, contributing to healing.
Conclusion
Suffering is an unpleasant and difficult emotional state. If you are faced with something like this, the main thing is not to withdraw into yourself. Seek support from friends and family. If you find it difficult to open up to people you know well, be sure to consult a psychologist.
