What exactly is being emotionally drained?

Question

i found myself trying to explain it to a friend and couldnt quite put it all together for her. I just told her sometimes when youre over emotional or upset it takes out your energy....whats a better way to explain it?

Answer 1

Well, when you run around and around and do lots of physical exercise, your body gets physically drained. Pretty much everyone has experienced being that tired from exercise.

Being emotionally drained is the same thing, except it's your mind thats tired and drained, rather than your body. And instead of running and physical exercise having caused it, it's having to deal with emotions, usually being very upset.

It differs from just being stressed or a bit tired which most people feel after having been upset a bit, same as the feeling of tired and being worn out you feel from jogging a little on the spot, differs from hours of hard physical work.

That's the best way I can come up with describing it. I'm sure there is probably a more psychological explination, but I don't know it!

Answer 2

Well this is what the phrase 'emotionally drained' brings to mind for me.

If you feel a high level of anger, upset, etc, for a period of days, eventually you lose your sense of perspective, and you can't compare the feeling to how you normally feel. Having had it for so long, eventually you don't have the energy or perspective to care anymore, so you give up.

If you have reached a state of catharsis, then it can be a good thing - you've expressed all your pent up emotion and once you've got your energy back you can look at your personal issues from a more relaxed / rational perspective.

Answer 3

You've been through so mch that your body and mind are exhausted and shut down as a defense mechanism.

Answer 4

Some of the symptoms of depression describe this feeling very well:

http://www.clinical-depression.co.uk/Depression_Information/symptoms.htm