In a study conducted by the University of California, women reported less emotional hurt after taking a pain-killer such as paracetamol or ibuprofen while females given a placebo did not experience the same effects.
Unfortunately, for us fellas, the same couldn't be said: our emotional turmoil intensified after swallowing a pill.
In the report, women who were given over-the-counter pain relievers reported less grief from emotionally distressing experiences. They were also able to empathise with the suffering of others. Interestingly, participants who took the placebo did not experience the same sympathy.
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While pain-killers could emotionally stablise females, they were prone to errors of judgement while also impacting their ability to process information. Those on the placebo, however, did not suffer the same fate.
"In many ways, the reviewed findings are alarming," says co-author of the study, Dr Kyle Ratner.
"Consumers assume that when they take an over-the-counter pain medication, it will relieve their physical symptoms, but they do not anticipate broader psychological effects."
The new findings could have potential implications for helping people suffering emotional hurt.
