Does pain dissipates after a while?

[Hibbity-hoo-blah]

I'm uneducated at psychology etc, so my apologies if I make things sound lame. I heard that pain [physical or emotional] numbs down after reaching a certain point of exhaustion. Is this claim valid? On the side-note, to check it out for myself, I grasped a cup of hot coffee by my fingers. Sure, it was pretty discomforting in the beginning. However, I kept pushing even when my mind was screaming to quit. And well, after a while, it wasn't as discomforting at all. So easy to deal with it.

Could this be true for psychological pain as well? Does this have something to do with desensitization?

[pert -5]

I'm uneducated at psychology etc, so my apologies if I make things sound lame. I heard that pain [physical or emotional] numbs down after reaching a certain point of exhaustion. Is this claim valid? On the side-note, to check it out for myself, I grasped a cup of hot coffee by my fingers. Sure, it was pretty discomforting in the beginning. However, I kept pushing even when my mind was screaming to quit. And well, after a while, it wasn't as discomforting at all. So easy to deal with it.

Could this be true for psychological pain as well? Does this have something to do with desensitization?

Pain develops tolerance.  But tolerance fails quite a bit when it comes to developing into understanding.  To push beyond the pain/pleasure dichotomy has its merits, but they are few and ready to see.

[Enigma]

Physical pain in response to a noxious stimuli is an ancient instinctual reaction to preserve survival so therefore it is extremely hard to develop a tolerance.  However, continuous exposure results in desensitization, and over time a tolerance can develop.  In neuroscience, the this kind of pain is called nociception and is governed by a specific system of receptors, nerve tracts, and brain areas.  Psychological pain doesn't use this system, so it's mechanics are a bit different.  Tolerance doesn't develop through desensitization; better coping strategies are learned to help deal with the emotions. 

[720iD]

What do you mean by psychological pain?

[Hibbity-hoo-blah]

Psychological trauma, I guess.

[S. Earl Martin]

Psycholical pain is a mental experience that impacts our life or sense of self. When my wife died in 2005 we had been married for 21 years. She had cancer and for over a year we had fought to save her. She made it thru and was in remission. We were so happy and then she was given the wrong medication and went in a coma. Later I realized the error and made them stop giving her the medicine. She woke up, but it was to late she had been damaged to much. When she died I experienced nearly every emotion imaginable. In some ways the pain has dissapated. Mostly it has just changed. It changed me. I am more appreciative of the people and things I have and don't take them for granted. I still expect her to come home and when I realize that isn't going to happen it hurts just as much. I have developed coping strategies as Enigma mentioned.

On the other hand I have had traumas in the past that used to bother me a lot more now I ignore them. Or they have lost their edge.

Good answer Enigma.   

[Hibbity-hoo-blah]

Man, sorry to hear that, Martin. Death of a beloved always broke me down in the past as well. But eh, time makes you numb. As a kid, I dealt with it with grieving and later, it just became manageable. And now, as a man in his early 20's, I find myself making up excuses that only makes me more optimistic. Like "Dumbass, death is liberation. She is finally liberated from this sick world and is sleeping peacefully or in a better place. Why the grief?"

[S. Earl Martin]

Those are all examples of coping stratagies.
Thank's I know where she is and believe I will see her again. We had a good run. Most marriages don't last 5 years today. 21 years was pretty good. The Lord is merciful. Peace

[Hibbity-hoo-blah]

Hmmm... well, it seems like I've been unconsciously using coping strategies before I even knew what it really was. Is this a natural unconscious response of every person or it's just that there are only few exceptions like me? Could this be an instinctual response as well or do you have to make conscious determined effort? Looking at myself and how it just came naturally, it could be an instinctual response.

On the side-note, the very thought of after-life and getting a chance to experience some bliss makes me feel kind of alive again. Oh boy, then my inner skeptic crash the party to create some sensational cognitive-dissonance. Hah. I guess being religious or atheist is a better way to live thanks to the sense of certainty [despite the fact virtually nothing is certain].

[S. Earl Martin]

Coping mechinisms are instinctual and most people use them to some degree without realizing it. Even people who are aware of there existance use them and sometimes aren't aware of how they are useing them.

As far as religion goes there have been a number of lengthy threads about that here. Who believes in God etc. They were quite interesting. I personally am a Christian, but not in a conventional sense. I believe wisdom and truth can be found in many places and thru many people. Not just in 1 writeing or in 1 philisophy. My beliefs help me to coup with many situations and give me reassurance.

When going on a journey. It is best to know your destination. Or you won't know where you will end up. Peace