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Anguish is an intense and complex emotional state due to mental or physical suffering.

tl;dr

Anguish feels like deep sorrow and pain and it can lead to emotional distress.

None of us are alone in that.

Young adult man sitting on bedroom thinking.

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Fortunately, we can overcome feelings of anguish with support from loved ones and/or a mental health professional.

What Does Anguish Feel Like?

Such feelings can manifest both physically and emotionally.

Anguish vs. Anxiety

The terms anguish andanxietyshare similar origins.

Both derive from the Indo-European root “angh,” meaning tighten, strangle, or compress.

What Causes Us to Feel Anguish?

Anguish is a complex emotion that can have a variety of causes.

Losing a meaningful attachment can create profound sadness, anger, and uncertainty.

It can also lead people to experience changes in their identity and question their life’s purpose and meaning.

People with chronic health conditions have a 50% higher risk of depression than those without such conditions.

These effects can then harm a person’sself-worthand sense of empowerment in life.

Research has found that such periods can make people more prone to developing depression and other mental health problems.

Loneliness has a wide variety of health consequences, both physical and mental.

How Anguish Can Impact Our Lives

Anguish has powerful physiological and psychological effects.

If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Coping can be difficult, but there are strategies and resources available that can help.

It can be helpful to talk to a mental health professional.

A therapist can help you deal with the effects of emotional pain.

it’s possible for you to also develop coping skills that can decrease distress and improveresilience.

Stress management tactics such asmindfulness,meditation, anddeep breathingcan also help you better cope with feelings of stress.

It’s important to find healthy ways to process and express what you are feeling.

Show Yourself Compassion

Dont beat yourself up for what you are feeling.

“Self-compassion involves compassion, common humanity, and mindfulness,” Wells says.

Its OK to acknowledge the pain that you feel without casting judgment on your thoughts or emotions.

Stay Physically Active

Exercise can be an important tool for mental health.

Wells says finding ways to connect with others can also help build a sense of community and shared humanity.

Engage in Ritual

Wells suggests that rituals can play a key role in coping and healing.

Such rituals don’t need to be overly complex and should be personalized to your unique needs.

Draw from tradition and create your own," Wells suggests.

Such emotions often stem from trauma, loss, and grief, but each person’s experience is unique.

Online Etymology Dictionary.Angh-

Crocq MA.A history of anxiety: from Hippocrates to DSM.Dialogues Clin Neurosci.

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National Cancer Institute.Grief, bereavement, and coping with loss.

2019 Aug 29;14(8):e0222124].PLoS One.

2019;14(7):e0219663.

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0219663

Wu R, Liu LL, Zhu H, et al.Brief mindfulness meditation improves emotion processing.Front Neurosci.