19/10/2025
Science has confirmed what many of us intuitively feel: social rejection hurts, and not just emotionally, but physically. Researchers have discovered that being excluded or rejected activates the same neural circuits in the brain as a physical injury, showing that emotional pain and bodily pain are closely linked.
When someone experiences social exclusion, whether through a breakup, bullying, or even subtle rejection in a group setting, the brain processes these experiences using the anterior cingulate cortex and other pain-related regions. These are the same areas activated when we feel a burn, cut, or other physical trauma. This explains why emotional hurt can feel so real and intense, often triggering stress responses, increased heart rate, and even inflammation in the body.
Understanding this connection has important implications for mental health. Recognising that emotional pain is “real” pain validates the experiences of those struggling with loneliness, grief, or social anxiety. It also highlights the importance of social support, connection, and community in promoting overall well-being.
Experts believe that interventions targeting both emotional and physical aspects of pain could help people cope better with rejection and improve mental resilience. So the next time someone feels hurt by social exclusion, it’s not just in their head, their brain and body are truly feeling the impact.
