When you suffer does knowing the cause of the pain (emotional pain) make it hurt less or more?

Question

Why?

Answer 1

Are you asking for theoretical generalizations or personal responses? Theoretically, it would depend on a person and his or her circumstances. There are a lot of variables, such as what the pain is, the person's desire to know, and the person's ability to utilize the information about the cause to overcome the pain. On a personal level, a person would likely have to experience the mystery and discovery to come to an informed decision in response to this question. I'm not completely sure I have experienced the discovery.

I suffered for many years, five or so, without knowing why I was so miserable. I was constantly mulling about why, and I do mean constantly. The constant mulling made it worse, kind of like a downward spiral (in the meantime I was listening to Nine Inch Nail's "The Downward Spiral" - I think that's where I get that metaphor). Thinking about what brought me down brought me down further. After some time of mulling (and talking to a therapist), I started remembering some traumatic experiences (I guess repression is real) and other events that may have contributed to my circumstance. If I hadn't remembered those memories, I might still be where I once was. Though I'm not sure I still remember everything or have adequately dealt with the issues that surfaced, the pain is less.

So, I said it. The pain is less knowing at least where some of the pain is coming from. Understanding and acceptance are, I think, the keys to peace. I just would feel more confident in my decision if I were further down the road, but, then again, I don't know if people always have issues.

Sorry about the length of this. I've noticed I can rarely give a short answer. I just thought that my experience helped illustrate the examples for both theory and personal responses. And, in case you asked this question for personal reasons, well, it might be nice to know you're not the only one that's suffered 'without reason.'

Answer 2

Knowing the cause of your suffering will only make it hurt less if having that knowledge provides you with a beginning to the path of doing what needs to be done to make the suffering stop. When you "know" that there will be an end to your suffering, it's surprisingly much easier to get through the tough times and endure the suffering. When you're in control of your emotions, you are empowered.

Answer 3

Ya, it hurts a lot more knowing what the problem is, if you feel you can't do anything about it. Being in great emotional pain, watching yourself get worse and worse, knowing that you can't stop it, makes it so much harder to deal with.

Answer 4

Well, why would you be suffering if you didn't even know what you were upset about? But I think it hurts worse depending on if there is something you can do about it or not. When you know there is nothing you can do to make it better except wait it out, then it hurts worse, but when you know there is something you can do, you'll feel better because you'll start working at it.

Answer 5

I think it hurts more because if you know the source, then you inevitably keep thinking about it I suppose psychologically it makes it worse. But if you don't know the cause then your mind is free to wander and eventually doesn't focus on it anymore. I don't know.

Answer 6

Sometimes it makes it worst, specially when you realize there´s nothing you can do about it, or when you know you should have known better.
I guess it could hurt less if you find a way out.

Answer 7

Less. More nerves get tense when you are worried thereby causing more pain and depression.

Answer 8

I think it depends on the cause.