Abstract
Traditional sensory neuropsychology that dominated pain research was influenced by Cartesian Dualism: the brain detects and perceives pathological processes passively and mechanically—they looked at the body and mind as separate entities. According to this new view, pain is subjective and physical pain is invariably tied to our emotions. Pure pain is never detected as an isolated phenomenon as it is always accompanied by emotion and meaning to each individual. There is a difference between primary pain and secondary pain as secondary pain is bound up with physical and emotional responses. Craig Hassad says that the second layer to physical pain may be described as STRESS. (i) Stress increases the output of inflammatory chemicals, we have poured fuel on the inflammatory fire. (ii) Secondly, we may be physically tensed and stressed , which may add to the muscle spasms that is presented at the site of pain.
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de Silva, P. (2017). Pain Management and Somatic Intelligence. In: Emotions and The Body in Buddhist Contemplative Practice and Mindfulness-Based Therapy. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55929-2_4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-55929-2_4
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