What does "emotional burden" refer to?

The term "emotional burden" refers specifically to the heavy mental and emotional load that individuals carry as a result of adverse experiences or negative emotions. This can include feelings of sadness, anxiety, grief, or trauma that are often linked to challenging or distressing life events. When someone has an emotional burden, it signifies a weight that affects their mental well-being, often leading to stress and difficulties in coping with daily tasks and relationships.

In contrast, a light mental load from enjoyable experiences would imply that the experiences are positive, which does not align with the concept of an emotional burden. The absence of feelings and emotions suggests an emotional numbness, rather than the weight of emotional experiences. Lastly, a temporary discomfort that resolves quickly does not capture the ongoing and often persistent nature of an emotional burden that can have lasting effects on a person’s mental health.