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My previous post, "Is Pain All In Your Head?" discussed how the same sensation can be interpreted as excitement, pain, or pressure, depending on how you interpret it.
How does that work? The amygdala.
Pain and the Amygdala
The amygdala is the part of the brain central to feelings like fear, anxiety, and anger. It also processes punishments and rewards. Burning your hand quickly teaches you not to touch fire. Rewarding experiences make it more likely we do something again.
If you had fun at an amusement park, you’re more likely to go back. An amusement park is a good example of how the amygdala can change how we feel—and thus the power of rewards to change behavior.
Riding a Roller Coaster: Thrill vs. Terror
Think about how it feels to go ride a roller coaster. What makes it fun for lots of people is the thrill. We feel danger from the speed and sensation. Despite that, we also feel pretty safe because of the precautions and seat belts that greet us as we get on the ride.
Seeing other people laughing as they get off the ride also damps down our fear. Both the fear and the pleasure feelings we experience on a roller coaster are mediated through the amygdala. If we didn’t trust the amusement park, a roller coaster wouldn’t be fun; it would be terrifying.
The amygdala’s response differs by context
Have you ever ridden a roller coaster by yourself? It’s a lot more fun with a buddy. Most people—particularly teenagers—have much more fun doing risky things when they’re with friends. That’s because being with others activates the amygdala and enhances feelings of reward.
This even happens when we just think our friends are watching, or if we imagine sharing what we’re doing on Instagram or Facebook. (Read "Hey Guys, Watch This!" and "Teens Respond to Pleasure, Not Pain" for a more detailed discussion of this.)
The same is true of pain.
We experience sensations very differently depending on what emotions go along with them. When we are depressed, scared, or anxious, the amygdala interprets injury and sensation as threatening. What happens?
Everything hurts more.
The effects of negative emotions on pain are incredibly powerful. One reason that disassociatives can work as painkillers is by turning down the fear receptors in the amygdala. They don't damp down the sensation of pain.
Is That Why Distraction Helps Relieve Pain?
Yes!
It seems impossible that someone in pain can be laughing and playing a videogame one minute, then overwhelmed and unable to set the table or focus on homework. But it happens all the time. The positive emotions and activation of the brain—plus the conscious focus on the activity instead of the pain—change how pain is experienced.
That’s not faking it. It’s neuroscience.
The role of the amygdala in pain is one reason most pain professionals recommend people in pain work hard on getting out and seeing people, meditate or exercise to reduce their stress levels, and get treatment for depression and anxiety.
When you feel the world is a safer and less threatening place and that you are more powerful and capable, the same sensation is interpreted differently.
When you’re having fun, the anxiety and danger centers of the brain ratchet the experience of pain way down. The pain is still there, but it’s much easier to deal with.
In other words, when you feel happy and strong, pain hurts less.
