Emotion Thesaurus Addendum: Pain

Posted by Angela Ackerman

January 15,
2009

Physical Pain

Clenching or grinding teeth
Probing the pained area and wincing
Hobbling about, taking tentative steps
Tightness in the expression
Crying, watering eyes
Shuddering breaths
Flinching if someone tries to touch you
Emphatic when speaking "Don't touch me!" or "Get me something for the pain, now."
Taking a deep breath before trying to move
Squeezing eyes shut
Tight muscles, rigidness
Using pillows to prop up pained areas
Leaning back & grimacing
Expelling a grunt or pained hiss at exertion
Asking for aid (to move, to get something, to call for help)
Medicating
Trying to sleep it off
Short-temperedness
Depression
Gripping onto people or nearby objects for additional support (a handrail, the back of a chair, the wall) needing strength/stability to get around
Rubbing at the offending spot
Nausea
Dizziness
Fainting/blacking out
Buckling knees
Hallucinations
Racing heart
Pulsing blood
Shaking fingers
Trembling limbs
Pale skin
Blotchy skin
Glassy eyes
Feeling cold or feverish
Dry mouth
Gasping for breath
Screaming
Sweating
Trying to use hot or cold therapies to dull the pain
Moaning/groaning
Biting lip
Attempts to calm oneself
Rocking back and forth
Panting
Repeating same phrase over and over
Grabbing at the painful spot
Checking and rechecking pained area obsessively
Holding the hurt area away from the body (if possible)
Grabbing onto someone else
Distracting gestures (flapping hand, tapping foot, nodding head, etc)
Inability to take one's gaze from the painful spot
Squeezing eyes shut, refusing to look
Panic

Emotional Pain

Clenched stomach
Tight chest
Hearing the rush of one's heartbeat in ears
A throbbing pain in chest
Speechlessness
Mouth opening in shock, gaping
Shaking head in denial
Tears, sobbing, wailing
A clogged throat or thickness in throat
Weariness
Numbness
Weak knees
Shaking, trembling
Unable to articulate self to others
Flight response
Stumbling
Falling into a chair or slumping to the floor
An inability to eat or sleep
Obsessing on the person/event that causes the pain
Anger--lashing out at those around you, swatting aside people trying to hold you or console you
Wanting to be alone
Closed body language: pulling knees to chest, curling up, slumping over chest, etc
Depression
Kneading/rubbing or pressing at chest
Loss of breath
Hyperventilation
Head hanging down, hair in face
Unkempt appearance
Avoiding people
Calling in sick to work or school
Not caring about other's needs
Priorities: things that seemed important no longer do
Splotchy/swollen/wet face from crying
Oaths rooted in anger are made to harm or get revenge
Plotting ways to cause another pain back
Carrying out plans to hurt another
Keeping all others at an emotional distance
Thoughts of suicide or even carrying out the act