Wesley Felt

Why does understanding a psychological risk lead to physical reactions? The answer lies in human anatomy, specifically in the mechanisms behind real pain. Is mental pain comparable to physical pain? How does intense pain manifest? When it comes to physical pain, the process is straightforward. We rarely consider the basic motor reflexes controlled by the spine.

 

During physical sensation, a nervous impulse is transmitted through the nerves to the corresponding part of the brain, which then sends a response impulse to an organ. But how does mental pain occur? Our bodies possess a self-regulation function for all physiological processes. In essence, the brain responds to changes in the body's chemical processes.

 

It’s likely that emotions cause some form of change in the body, such as in the blood’s composition. This change is then transmitted to the brain, which sends a response impulse to an organ, resulting in real pain. This phenomenon is known as the psychological cause of real pain.

 

For example, if you’re afraid of the dark, you might experience discomfort or a choking sensation in your throat. It feels as if something is obstructing your breathing. The fear isn’t of the darkness itself but of what might be lurking within it. This fear is based on information you've gathered throughout your life. A child, for instance, doesn’t fear the dark until they’re told what might be in it. This is what we call conscious fear.

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