We can learn to control pain in very much the same way as tension and anxiety, and this includes pain from organic as well as psychological causes. But before describing the self-management of painful conditions I shall discuss with you some particular aspects of pain. This will make it easier to understand exactly what we are doing when we start to work on the actual
The Biological Purpose of Pain-Pain and Evil-We are likely to think of pain as something bad—something evil—that would not be present in a more perfect world. The ancients thought of pain as the tool of the devil, and a burden from which God would relieve them. All this, of course, is fanciful thinking. Pain Is a Warning of Injury. Pain serves as much of a purpose as do our other sensations. Without hunger and thirst we would soon die of starvation; without a sex appetite our race would disintegrate; without feelings of hot and cold our bodies would be burnt and chilled. Similarly, pain is a warning that our body is suffering some harm. Without such a warning we would be unable to preserve ourselves from physical injury. So the sensation of pain is a helpful and necessary guide to us in our everyday living. If we remember this, and abandon any thoughts that pain is wrong or wicked or evil, it will help us in our exercises to control pain.
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