in·se·cu·ri·ty /ˌɪnsɪˈkyʊərɪti/ [in-si-kyoor-i-tee]
1. lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt: He is plagued by insecurity.
2. the quality or state of being insecure; instability: the insecurity of her financial position.
3. something insecure: the many insecurities of life.
—Synonyms 2. precariousness, shakiness, vulnerability.
in·se·cure Audio Help /ˌɪnsɪˈkyʊər/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[in-si-kyoor] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1. subject to fears, doubts, etc.; not self-confident or assured: an insecure person.
2. not confident or certain; uneasy; anxious: He was insecure about the examination.
3. not secure; exposed or liable to risk, loss, or danger: an insecure stock portfolio.
4. not firmly or reliably placed or fastened: an insecure ladder.
vul·ner·a·ble Audio Help /ˈvʌlnərəbəl/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[vuhl-ner-uh-buhl] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–adjective 1. capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt, as by a weapon: a vulnerable part of the body.
2. open to moral attack, criticism, temptation, etc.: an argument vulnerable to refutation; He is vulnerable to bribery.
3. (of a place) open to assault; difficult to defend: a vulnerable bridge.
4. Bridge. having won one of the games of a rubber.
hurt Audio Help /hɜrt/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[hurt] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation verb, hurt, hurt·ing, noun, adjective
–verb (used with object) 1. to cause bodily injury to; injure: He was badly hurt in the accident.
2. to cause bodily pain to or in: The wound still hurts him.
3. to damage or decrease the efficiency of (a material object) by striking, rough use, improper care, etc.: Moths can't hurt this suit because it's mothproof. Dirty oil can hurt a car's engine.
4. to affect adversely; harm: to hurt one's reputation; It wouldn't hurt the lawn if you watered it more often.
5. to cause mental pain to; offend or grieve: She hurt his feelings by not asking him to the party.
–verb (used without object) 6. to feel or suffer bodily or mental pain or distress: My back still hurts.
7. to cause bodily or mental pain or distress: The blow to his pride hurt most.
8. to cause injury, damage, or harm.
9. to suffer want or need.
–noun 10. a blow that inflicts a wound; bodily injury or the cause of such injury.
11. injury, damage, or harm.
12. the cause of mental pain or offense, as an insult.
13. Heraldry. a rounded azure.
–adjective 14. physically injured: The hurt child was taken to the hospital.
15. offended; unfavorably affected: hurt pride.
16. suggesting that one has been offended or is suffering in mind: Take that hurt look off your face!
17. damaged: hurt merchandise.
pain Audio Help /peɪn/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[peyn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun 1. physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.
2. a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: a back pain.
3. mental or emotional suffering or torment: I am sorry my news causes you such pain.
4. pains, a. laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care: Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.
b. the suffering of childbirth.
5. Informal. an annoying or troublesome person or thing.
–verb (used with object) 6. to cause physical pain to; hurt.
7. to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.
–verb (used without object) 8. to have or give pain.
—Idioms9. feel no pain, Informal. to be intoxicated: After all that free beer, we were feeling no pain.
10. on, upon, or under pain of, liable to the penalty of: on pain of death.
11. pain in the ass, Slang: Vulgar. pain (def. 5).
12. pain in the neck, Informal. pain (def. 5).
Main Entry: emo·tion·al distress
Function: noun
: a highly unpleasant emotional reaction (as anguish, humiliation, or fury) which results from another's conduct and for which damages may be sought called also emotional harm mental anguish mental distress mental disturbance mental suffering —see also OUTRAGE, ZONE OF DANGER
Main Entry: men·tal an·guish
Function: noun
: a high degree of emotional pain, distress, torment, or suffering that may aggravate a crime or be a subject of an action for damages or wrongful death : EMOTIONAL DISTRESS
Extremely dangerous and terrifying events...are almost always experienced as traumatic because of their severe intensity and because of the tremendous sense of powerlessness that often occurs. Most people who live through them are haunted by extreme anxiety, nightmares, and memories for weeks (and many times for months or years) after the event itself. Such tragedies profoundly affect a person’s sense of safety in the world and can unleash agonizing questions about the meaningfulness and fairness of life.
Take some time to reflect on your own painful experiences, to admit to yourself that your emotional pain is real, to recognize that countless others face similar circumstances, and to allow yourself some modest optimism that you may be able to grow beyond the pain.
People in emotional pain often make three primary errors: (1) they believe that stressful life events are “no big deal,” and if hard times do occur, the pain should go away quickly. (2) They engage in a ruthless attack on their worth as human beings: “I shouldn’t feel this way.” “ I must be crazy.” “There’s something wrong with me.” (3) They compare their pain with that of other people: “It could be worse. Others suffer more.”
Certain natural emotional healing processes and mechanisms exist within the human psyche. For example, something about crying promotes healing, yet, many people have learned early in life that they should not cry. For them, crying is a sign of weakness or inadequacy. But, an emotional loss not resolved, like any unhealed wound, may continue to be a source of tremendous (psychological) pain for many years to come.
Certain amounts of pain can be tolerated, but beyond a certain point, pain can be overwhelming for everyone. Pop psychology has suggested that it’s good to “get in touch with your feelings,” however, caution is important.
The unearthing of strong feelings must be done at the proper time, in a proper context of safety and trust, and at their own pace.
Emotions are our main source of aliveness and – at times of severe stress – of tremendous human suffering, It’s healthiest to allow yourself to experience your feelings within your own “zone of emotional tolerance.”
Characteristics of Emotional Health:
1. Ability to feel emotions deeply
2. Ability to identify and understand inner feelings and needs
3. Self-entitlement: it’s okay to feel good about yourself
4. Self-assertion: it’s okay to express yourself
5. Self-soothing: taking care of yourself
6. Capacity for intimate relationships
7. Commitment
8. Permission to be human, ordinary
Very major events have lasting effects, however, with time and emotional healing, the anguish decreases in intensity and the memory of the painful event slips into the background. At some point, people start to feel “normal” again.
During times of emotional crisis people can take steps to more successfully ride out emotional storms:
to have others understand and accept your feelings,
to find outlets for honest self-expression,
to care for basic physical and emotional needs,
to express or affirm your own inner beliefs and values.
Three primary approaches have been shown to be quite effective in reducing some of the symptoms associated with life stress: changing unhealthy habits, relaxation, and appropriate use of medications.
Psychological pain is suffering caused by psychological stress and by psychological trauma rather than stimuli that activates physical-pain sensitive nocieptors and [[nociception. The practice of torture induces psychological pain through various acts that often involve both physiological torture and psychological torture to achieve the torturer's goal(s).
Examples of psychological stress include: paralyzing fear of death or pain, uncertainty, unfulfilled anticipation, fear for (and of) others and desire for (and of) others. But torture also creates other extreme dynamics, and can disrupt usual cognitive processes to such an extent that the subject is unable to retain the usual sense of personal boundaries, friends and enemies, love and hate, and other major human psychological dynamics. It is necessary that the torturer empathize with their victim, as they cannot reliably effect the torture without understanding the utility of the pain being inflicted. For example, animals cannot literally torture each other because they cannot understand the utility of the pain itself. Thus they must first be made to understand the consequences of the intended pain.
