Do dogs feel emotional pain

The Thing No One Told You About Your Emotional Pain

Turn your pain to power

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The greatest journey of your life is always the road that takes you from the depths of your pain and delivers you to the triumph of your power.

Power simply means "to be able."

Anything you want: growth, peace, a new job, a better romance, a transformed relationship with your childrenall require your effect on your own life.

As a neuropsychologist specializing in trauma, I have watched people rise from unspeakable pain. After more than 20 years of trauma work, the thing that stuns me still is the spectacular grace and courage of people who say: I rise, not because I have beat the fear, the pain, and the grief. I rise with the fear. With the pain. With the grief.

I rise because I choose to rise.

I rise because I rise.

What does this mean for you?

It means that the relief you are seeking is often much closer than it might appear. It simply requires you to understand the chemistry of converting your pain to your power.

Often, there islike the constant ticking of a clocka reliable rhythm to those who stay stuck and those who make it home.

I'll tell you two things that I hope will clarify what your brain does with your pain and why it can, at first, be so hard to let it go.

First, there is very often a "nowness" to your emotional pain. A sense that, no matter how long ago the emotional injury actually occurred, it just occurred.

A random comment, a spontaneous situation, a certain tone of voice, and suddenlyall over againthere it is: The dropping of your stomach. The tightening of your throat. The breaking of your heart.

When an old wound is reactivated in you, you're triggered anew.

From this reactive posture, we tarnish the potential of new moments with the pain of old scripts.

From this reactive posture, we argue with ghosts.

Why Does This Happen?

The part of your brain that is the holder of your emotional reactivity: your anxiety, fear, trauma and stress is unable to keep linear time.

It literally does not understand time.

These subcortical regions in your brain that store your emotional pain are not the parts that say "I must be at the grocery store by 3pm."

This is why, when a person triggers an old wound, the trigger can seem as fresh as this morning's dew.

The second thing that's important to understand about the brain and emotional pain is that emotional pain is wildly salient to the brain. Emotional pain is so important that your brain locks in these memories, ironically enough, to protect you.

The parts of the brain that process physical pain are very similar to the parts that process emotional pain. This is why, for example, when your heart gets broken, you literally feel physical pain.

But here's where it gets even more interesting. Neuroscience research seems to suggest that, oddly enough, emotional pain may be more relevant to us than physical pain.

Consider this: Think about a time when you really physically injured yourself.

For example, several months ago, I knocked myself silly when I slammed a trunk on my head. Y'all, I left my body and saw Jupiter, ok? I remember this event very clearly and yet I cannot feel it.

Ok now, consider this:

Growing up I was the size of a small acorn, always the smallest kid by an order of magnitude. One time in 6th grade history class, Mrs. Kieffer made us all stand up when it was our turn to answer the question.

When it was my turn, Mrs. Kieffer said, "Stand up, Julia."

And I had to say in front of the whole class....wait for it...."I am standing."

The class eruptedhooting, shrieking, the whole 9 yardsand I thought I was gonna die.

The difference between memories of physical vs emotional pain is you can STILL FEEL the latter.

I can still feel the embarrassmentthe flushing of my face, the sweat in my palms. I can still feel my classmates' laughter hitting my face like slaps.

In other words, our emotional pain remains alive inside of our own bodies whereas the physical pain is simply a non-living memory.

To beat chronic patterns of emotional pain, the most effective thing to do is re-trigger the memory of the pain.*

It seems counterintuitive to intentionally move toward the painful emotional memory, but this is preciselywhat our most evidence-based treatments for anxiety indicate.

Volitionally retriggering the emotional pain allows your brain to have the space it needs to recode the meaning of the event.

To recode the difference between now and then.

To recode the difference between a live thing and a memory of the thing.

To recode the difference between a feeling and a threat.

To recode the difference between danger and discomfort.

When you really show your brain that discomfort is not danger, you will find you can release.

And it is here, untethered from the pain of your past, that you're fully able to live your life, not from a place of emotional reactivity, but a place of emotional power.

* Of course, you should seek mental health treatment when indicated. To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.

What emotions do dogs feel?

At ScobyDog we have no doubt thatdogs have emotions.From the moment you adopt puppies to their old age, they show us a range of feelings ranging from love to jealousy.When we get home, they are the first to greet us with joy and express sadness when we leave.

This is our subjective paternal gaze, yet what do the experts say?Over the past 25 years, neuroscientists have contributed a wealth of data and studies on canine emotional learning, claiming that dogs are perfectly capable of having complex emotions like those of humans.

Continue reading this article and know the answer to the question what emotions do dogs feel?, You will discover some thoughts about the science behind your pets emotions.

Emotions in dogs and the experts

Science has come a long way, especially in the animal field.We have come to understand that dogs have the same brain structures, hormones, and chemical changes that human emotions produce.Each time we discover how complex they can be.Dogs evenhave the hormone oxytocin, the one we secrete when we are in love or feel affection for others.That said, you can imagine that your dog has tons of this hormone, because what he likes the most is giving you love and seeking affection from you.

Studies show that with respect to basic emotions, humans and other animal mammals are very similar and these emotions occur in deep areas of the brain.Similarly, they argue that although these parameters are similar,animals are purer in terms of emotionsthan people.

What happens is that the feelings that dogs experience are not connected with complex thoughts.Dogs do not question their own emotions, they only dedicate themselves to feeling.His emotions are 100% honest, your dog could never lie to you, or have ulterior motives about something he is feeling.But this does not make them less sensitive, it does not mean that they do not feel intensely, in the same way that we do.

Joy and love

No one can deny that dogs havea deep love for their human companions, which translates into loyalty like none other.If you build a good and solid relationship with your pet, your dog will always want to receive and give love, he will see you with eyes of unmatched appreciation, he will make you feel loved and appreciated and he will constantly show you.He will seek to lick you, kiss you and, if he could, also hug you.

In the same way, that love is mixed with joy.A healthy dog is a happy dog that enjoys life.His way of expressing how happy he is through play, jumps, and very spontaneous body language and sounds.Dogscertainlyexperience joy.The naturalistic scientist Charles Darwin mentioned: under the expectation of any great pleasure, the dogs leap in an extravagant way and bark with joy.

Emotional pain

Dogs dont feel emotional pain in the same way as people, but they doexperience the sense of loss and sadnesswhen, for example, a member of their pack (their family) leaves or passes away.Although they do not cry, they express their grief and anguish in other ways, such as through fear,depression, loss of appetite, listlessness, anxiety, sleeping too much or too little.According to a study carried out, dogs can exhibit various behavioral changes after losing a companion, entering a mourning process that can last weeks or even months.

Jealousy

Do you come home and go to pet your dogs and one wants to monopolize your pampering and your affection?Dogs are territorial creatures, even on emotional levels.You are part of him andhe will seek to have your full attention.If you have another dog or someone new to the family arrives,your dog will feel jealousof this invader and, therefore, when asked what emotions do dogs feel, this is one of the most common.

Dogs do not appreciate preferences when it comes to another creature, however, when it comes to them, they are very comfortable with the idea of not sharing you.This does not have to be the rule.If you raise your dogs with a lot of love around them, a sense of confidence, and independence, in addition to their due moments of relaxation, you will not have why to have a jealous dog at home.

Shame

Your dog, of course, knows when he has done something wrong, such aspeeing where he should not, biting, breaking, or eating something that does not belong to him.The typical guilty face, accompanied by the tail tucked between the legs, hunching up like a ball, and standing on its bed or in a corner, are clear signs thatyour dog is feeling shame.These are behaviors that dog sitters are very familiar with.But for dogs, this emotion is less complex than human guilt or shame.Submissive postures are the clear result of anxious anticipation of anger on your part.Your beloved and emotionally intelligent pet know that his actions were not correct and will lead to disciplinary action.However, this emotion that dogs feel is not usually long-lasting, so correcting the behavior after some time after it has been performed will not obtain results, since the dog will have already forgotten what he did wrong.

Fear

Dogs can also suffer from fears and phobias.They are creatures very sensitive to traumasand strong emotions that come suddenly.How many times have you not gone out for a walk with your dog and out of nowhere it runs to get between your legs? That is a clear behavior that expresses fear, in which your dog will seek your protection.Fireworks, vacuum cleaners, trucks, people in mysterious hats and suits, and even darkness, maybe just some of the factors that produce the emotion of fear in dogs.Nerves bring cravings, cravings bring fear, and fear results in fear.This is an expansive chain in which most dogs are trapped and that people, as their caretakers, must help to free them with love, patience, attention, and emotional education.

Now that you know what emotions dog feel, have you noticed that yours expresses any that are not on our list?Do not hesitate to leave your comment!

Can Dogs Sense When Youre in Pain?

Its no secret that our four-legged pals are intelligent creatures. They sense so many things out of the ordinary, with some even claiming that dogs can smell cancer. But how true is this, and can dogs sense when youre in pain or have an illness?

Its true that dogs can sense when youre in pain. There have been many studies that show confirm that in some cases dogs can sense when a human is in pain, has an illness, or emotional pain, all thanks to their heightened senses.

Put simply, dogs senses can pick up on cues we often exhibit when in pain.

Want to learn more about these pain-sensing superpowers? Below I have referenced the research that proves dogs do sense when youre in pain or ill, and how they act when doing so.

Do dogs sense when youre in pain and hurting?

Dogs will often sense when youre in pain and hurting. Our pets our not labeled mans best friend for no reason. They see us in our worst state, and still choose to stay right by our side whether were healthy or have an illness.

Almost every dog owner can agree that you cant mask your negative emotions from your dog, no matter how hard you try.

When youre sad, scared, or upset, its easy to hide what youre feeling from other people. But not your dog. They know when you cry, and will drop everything theyre doing to comfort you, leaving you wondering what made them know you were feeling a bit blue.

Dogs have unbelievable abilities that help them know when somethings wrong with us. So, if youve ever suspected that dogs know when their owner is in pain or suffering an illness, you guessed correctly.

Skinny, chubby, tall, or short, all dogs are smart enough to know when their owner is hurting.

Whether its an illness responsible for your physical pain or youre going through a difficult time thats knocked your emotional well-being off your feet, your dog can sense your distress.

But whats not quite known is whether dogs truly understand the concept of pain and hurting in humans.

The common assumption is that dogs cant relate to what pain feels like in the human body. The much they know is that things like injury or sickness are simply signs that their human best friend isnt okay.

How dogs sense pain and hurting is pretty much like how they recognize when youre happy or sad:

• Using their incredible sense of smell.
• Paying attention to your facial expressions.
• Interpreting your body language and tone of voice.

Handy Hint: Did you know that some people believe that dogs can sense an evil presence in a room, whether an evil person or even a ghost?!?

Your dogs nose knows whats up

The nose is the most powerful organ our wonderful canine pals have. Its their sense of smell that helps dogs sense when you are in pain.

It only takes a few sniffs for your dog to know youre in pain, thanks to their advanced sense of smell. Research published on phoenixvetcenter.com explains that a dogs nose is over 10, 000 stronger than ours!

They possess up to 300 million olfactory receptors in their noses, compared to about six million in us. And the part of a dogs brain that is devoted to analyzing smells is about 40 times greater than ours. Dogs also have something called neophilia, which means they are attracted to new and interesting odors.

Its no wonder that dogs can smell when you are in pain or have an illness that might have changed your biological responses by just the smallest of percentages.

To understand better, think of this real-world scenario.

When the pizza youve ordered arrives, all your nose will smell is the typical pizza scent. But your dog will smell every ingredient and seasoning, the crusts yeast, the body scent of everyone who touched the pizza box basically every single thing!

Its no surprise then that your dog relies on their nose to learn everything about your physical or emotional state. Dogs can even tell when their female owner is menstruating!

The hundreds of millions of scent receptors in your dogs nose make it easy for them to pick up the scent of pain-triggered chemicals in your body. For instance, the stress hormone, cortisol.

When youre unwell or in pain and hurting, you wont be in a healthy state of mind. That means your body will release lots of cortisol.

Dogs can effortlessly smell hormones like cortisol and oxytocin (the happiness hormone).

On normal, pain-free days, your furry pal smells oxytocin in your body. So, the scent of cortisol will make them realize something is off with you.

Their ability to smell chemicals also explains why some dogs can detect serious illnesses like epilepsy, cancer, and diabetes.

Sickness affects a persons body chemistry, and our furry friends smell these illness-related chemical odors.

Your dog might even throw hints when they sense a health problem is almost unfolding. Youll see them licking or sniffing at a particular spot in your body.

One study explained on PsychologyToday.com found that dogs know when their owners are about to have a migraine and will try to alert them. They can smell and sense the sudden change in serotonin levels, a chemical in the brain that drops when one is almost having a throbbing headache.

Dogs can be keenly sensitive to subtle changes related to the health of their owners. For example, seizure alert dogs can apparently sense imminent epileptic seizures. In a 2008 study, two thirds of dog owners suffering from Type I diabetes believed their pets knew when the owners were experiencing hypoglycemia, and the dogs engaged in alerting behaviors such as nuzzling their owner and barking.

The mere fact that they act restless when they realize their owner is sick (or about to be) is a sign that dogs can sense pain and illness in you.

Your facial expressions and tone of voice show youre hurting

When youre injured or sick, the pain is written all over your face. Literally.

As you lift your chin up, squeeze your eyes, or wrinkle your nose, your dog sees all that. And they will know that somethings amiss since you dont have the jovial, relaxed face they normally see you wearing on most days.

Theres also evidence shown on AKC.org that dogs associate human vocalizations with specific emotions.

They know that a happy face goes with a cheerful voice, and a sad face with a sad voice.

If youre in pain, your dog can hear it.

A group of researchers did a simple experiment involving thirty dogs. Each dog was handed a bowl of food, with two speakers attached to the sides of the dish. As the dog ate, pre-recorded human sounds of sadness, fear. happiness, anger, disgust, and surprise played.

Whenever the dogs heard fearful or sad sounds, their heart rates increased, and theyd take a while before proceeding with eating.

This study shows that dogs know sad or fearful sounds mean bad news.

When youre in pain, your dog will sense illness due to the sad and fear-like sounds youre making think of the soft moans, crying sounds, repeated sighing, or heavy breathing.

Your body language shows your pain

Another thing dogs are good at is studying our body language when were in pain and joining the dots.

Pain makes you exhibit negative body language cues like bending with hands wrapped around your belly. Or simply lying in a posture your dog doesnt usually find you in.

Theyll also suspect you arent okay when you dont pet them like you always do whenever they walk up to you. Your strange body language will let your dog sense that you are hurting.

How do dogs act when they sense illness

Most times, dogs dont simply sense pain and leave it at that. Seeing you hurting worries them, and they will do what they feel is right for you at that moment. Look out to see if your dogs acts in the following ways when sensing illness

• They will try to console you by curling up next to you, stretching their paw, resting their head on you, or licking you.
• Theyll insist on being the only one to guard you and try to stop others from getting near you. Your dog may decide to stay beside you as though holding vigil until you recover.
• Some dogs do the exact opposite of offering you their presence by giving you space. Your dog might assume your unwelcoming body language when in pain means you dont need them.
• They may try to distract you to cheer you up, even though you arent in the mood. For instance bringing you a toy so you can play with them.

FAQs on dogs sensing illness and pain

Can dogs sense when you are hurting?

Yes, thats correct. Dogs can tell youre in pain by sniffing the chemical scents in your body associated with pain.

They also sense youre hurting by paying attention to your facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice.

How do dogs act when they sense illness?

When dogs sense illness, its common for them to want to comfort their ill owner.

And in instances where the owner doesnt feel sick because the illness is yet to manifest, a dog may try to alert them with actions like constantly licking or sniffing a specific spot on the body.

Can dogs sense illness or death?

Yes, thats right. Dogs can sense sickness or death, perhaps even understanding the death of an owner, mainly because of their powerful sense of smell.

Conclusion

You probably already knew what amazing senses your dog has. But keep a close eye on them next time youre in pain or hurting. Dogs can sense illness and will often cuddle into you when youre low.

Embrace it.

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