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208. Why Does Betrayal Physically Hurt So Much? episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 16, 2026 · 11 MIN

208. Why Does Betrayal Physically Hurt So Much?

from After the Affair · host Luke Shillings

Betrayal is emotional. So why can it make you feel physically awful? The tight chest. The sick feeling in your stomach. The exhaustion. The tension. The racing heart. Being completely shattered but somehow unable to sleep. None of this feels particularly "emotional" when you're the one experiencing it. In this episode, Luke explores the relationship between emotional and physical pain, and why the distinction between the two isn't always as neat as we imagine. More importantly, he looks at the feedback loop that can develop after betrayal: emotional distress affects your physical state, while exhaustion, poor sleep and physical tension can make your emotional experience even harder to manage. You'll discover why your physical state matters when you're trying to make sense of what happened, why feelings can be treated as notifications rather than instructions, and why looking after your body isn't avoiding the emotional work. Sometimes, it's what makes the emotional work possible. In this episode: Why betrayal can create very real physical sensations The relationship between emotional pain and physical pain How poor sleep, exhaustion and stress can amplify emotional distress Why your physical state can influence the way you think about your relationship The difference between treating an emotion as information and treating it as an instruction Why self-care isn't a substitute for recovery - but can create better conditions for it A question to take away: What condition is your body in while you're asking yourself to heal? Connect with Luke: Website: www.lifecoachluke.com Instagram: @mylifecoachluke Email: [email protected] Join the After the Affair community at www.facebook.com/groups/aftertheaffaircommunity

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 16, 2026

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208. Why Does Betrayal Physically Hurt So Much?

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