What term is used to describe suffering that arises from deep emotional distress due to external factors?

The term that best describes suffering arising from deep emotional distress due to external factors is mental anguish. This term specifically encompasses a severe state of emotional suffering that often results from situations such as loss, conflict, or significant life changes, highlighting the intense psychological impact that external circumstances can have on an individual.

Mental anguish emphasizes the emotional and cognitive aspects of distress, distinguishing it from physical pain or damage, which is more associated with psychological damage or emotional pain. While emotional pain does address deep feelings of sadness or sorrow, it is more general and may not necessarily imply the profound and distressing nature of mental anguish. Traumatic stress refers more specifically to the psychological response to trauma rather than general emotional suffering.

Thus, mental anguish accurately and precisely captures the essence of the emotional struggles stemming from adverse external factors, making it the most appropriate term for describing such suffering.