Formless Realm Suffering Question

What I would like to know is how does an entity (stream of consciousness) experience suffering if it doesn’t have a physical body? Like say in the hell realm or any of the lower formless realms. Is there anything in Buddhist teachings that can explain this phenomena? I am also aware that mental suffering can intensify physical suffering, but I don’t understand how mental suffering alone, without a physical body is experienced in the formless realms.