Pain + Emotion Color Wheel

When Pain Has a Mood, Not Just a Message

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🔹 Purpose: To help patients identify and express the emotional undertones of their pain experiences using color and language.

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🔹 Why This Matters: Pain isn’t just a physical experience. Emotions like fear, anger, grief, and guilt shape how pain is felt and processed. Making them visible supports healing.

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🌀 How to Use:

Patients select a color that matches how pain feels today, then name the emotion and reflect on it. Use in journaling, sessions, or quiet moments of self- inquiry.

Wheel Example (Colors & Emotions):

▫️ Red = Anger / Frustration

▫️ Blue = Sadness / Grief

▫️ Yellow = Anxiety / Nervousness

▫️ Green = Calm / Hope

▫️ Purple = Confusion / Overwhelm

▫️ Orange = Motivation / Energy

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✅ Reflection Prompts:

▫️ “Today my pain feels like the color: __________”

▫️ “That color reminds me of: __________”

▫️ “The emotion underneath it might be: __________”

▫️ “One thing I can do to respond to that emotion is: __________”

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🧠 Optional Affirmation:

“My emotions are part of the story. Not the whole story.”

This resource is part of The Wondering Clinician Toolkit. It’s not medical advice—just a tool to support learning, reflection, and healing. Always consult your clinician when needed.