Pain is a perception that is affected by many factors. Our western medical culture has focused on the idea that there is always a direct physical source or “pain generator” that can be identified and fixed.
You are Not a Machine
“Pain-Generator” thinking takes the human body to be like the body of a car–when there is something wrong with the body, all you need is a good mechanic. The mechanic replaces mechanical parts, and the problem is solved. However, your body is not a machine. There is little resemblance of your body to a mechanical device:
Automobiles are DEAD and do not react to a pain signal. They do not have:
- Pain fibers
- A nervous system that interprets pain signals
- Hormones
- Emotions
- Memories
There is NOTHING in the mechanical world that remotely resembles pain. In fact, serious attempts have been made to reproduce pain in the mechanical world has failed miserably. Yet it is understandable for patients to become focused on finding the physical source of their pain. Your pain problem is solvable once you understand the various aspects of pain and then address ALL of them simultaneously.
- Pain is complicated–it is entangled in an intricate web of mental and physical states. It is a necessary part of being alive and human.