Why some pain feels good?

Why some pain feels good? It’s an age-old question that seems hard to answer. After all, “pain” is supposed to be unpleasant. It makes you feel miserable, it causes discomfort, and nobody likes it! Yet at the same time there are people who seem to enjoy being hurt!

We know that for some individuals certain forms of pain can actually produce feelings of pleasure or euphoria. This phenomenon is often referred to as pleasurable pain or algolagnia. Algolagnia involves experiencing a sense of excitement or arousal in response to various forms of physical stimulation such as biting, spanking, cutting etc.

It may come across as bizarre but the reality is we all like sensation in different ways; and through those sensations whether painful or not our brain releases chemicals which leads us into feeling euphoric. In this article let us explore the science behind why some pains feel good than others.

Why Do We Experience Pain?

Before delving deep into how pain and pleasure go hand in hand we first need understand why do humans experience the sensation called – Pain.

What Is Pain?

When nociceptors, small nerve fibers lying under our skin detect anything harmful, they start sending warning signals via Spinal Cord pressing out neuropeptides & neurotransmitters which straightly communicates with brain leading a human body registering “MOMENT OF PAIN”.

Think about burning your tongue on hot coffee or turning your ankle whilst running: these events happen because something has alerted one’s nociceptors – structures distributed throughout human tissues which detect noxious stimuli (i.e signaling tissue damage) – probably heat stimulus from hot coffee causing one’s tongue cells destruction leading towards release of inflammation-causing substances known as Prostaglandins . These signals travel up along nerves carrying electrical impulses towards spinal cord which instantly sends them to brain for further interpretation of stimulation; that this action was uncomfortable & intense leading us to the experience of pain.

Our bodies are pretty amazing in ways. Pain, we assume is a response system telling our body something isn’t right and it needs immediate attention.What ? I am not sure your doctor can tell you that.

The Science Behind Pleasurable Pain

There seem to be several possible reasons for why some people enjoy certain types of mild pain or discomfort:

1. Endorphins

One possibility is that physical sensation triggers the release endogenous opiates like beta-endorphins, which explains why many individuals feel a sense of relaxation and wellbeing effect after undergoing acute stress (i.e psychological pressure) leading towards lesser perception towards any form of pains.(Distraction therapy works!Isn’t it?)

Endorphins act as what we call natural painkillers.The heightened levels flood one’s opioid receptors acting through-out Central Nervous System leading an individual’s mood and remain high throughout his entire “pain phase”.

Research has shown exercise also triggers Endorphin releases assisting with suppressing depression, anxiousness helping individuals find much calmer approach towards dealing pains at times.

2. Psychological Response

Another explanation focuses more on cognitive factors – i.e how our mind processes sensory information contributing towards our reaction.Thus when being subjected upon minor injury or scratches area close to amygdala (limbic part) in human brain get activated causing emotional arousal such as desire or pleasure toward same stimulations over time eventually creating nice memories attached with those terrible sensations which makes up an addictive cycle wanting more each day.

In most cases these incidents go far beyond just physiological sensation but depends majorly on personal connection.How well somebody relates and interprets inwardly may significantly differ person by person.

For Example: Let’s take 2 different ways bass guitarists play:-one typical way takes light plucking showing subtlety of finger actions while others indulging in looking for pain on their respective fingers.

Depression is one main trigger towards self injury by many people where they are willing to experience any form of physical abuse or self harm just so they can feel something different than mental anguish for few moments , making these incidents more a cognitively influenced activity.##

Types Of Pain Which Can Also Lead Towards Pleasure

Often consider this highly outlandish , there do exist several forms of painful sensations which go beyond pleasure and leads us into feeling ecstatic over time.Focus predominantly lies on Central Nervous System causing significant biochemical changes on how brain functions ultimately leading to heightened excitement toward rough stimulation as well.Thus,Before presuming themselves as lesser human being, those attempting engaging with possible algolagnia should know that they are not alone.

1.Tattooing

First up: Tattoos! They’ve become pretty popular recently; almost everybody has got some ink done at least once in their lives.And it shouldn’t be surprising since tattoos use needles piercing through upper skin layers basically inflicting injuries triggering release of chemicals like endorphins and oxytocin (the bonding hormone) directly interacting creating intense sensation often variously described from “stinging,” “burning,” “itchy”.

Many people obtain tattoos because the aesthetic satisfaction associated with permanently marking oneself outweighs the brief period pain during the process.

2. Piercing & Self-Harm / Cutting

In contemporary cultures, body piercings have always been viewed mostly from fashion perspective but piercings initiate same chemical reactions just as tatto0os-with dopamine flooding releasing endorphins creating elated emotional arousal thus leading often stimulating experience.Dopamine helps tightening focus around area undergoing perforation reducing immediate worries lowering anxiety levels

However,self-harm taking shape across depression,anxiety disorders completely vary carrying dissociative feelings resulting zero empathy experiencing gradual numbness in ways. When individual finally reaches to level of harming it inflicts pain turning all their attention towards the sensation making them feel alive as compared to numbing feelings they experienced before.

3. Foot Binding

Now, putting aside modern scenarios, there have been cases historically where specific cultures may inflict some painful elements as part or an initiation ritual.Bound feet, for instance was very common among Chinese women over a period spanning almost one thousand years!

The process included bending girls’ toes and securing foot with fabrics tightly placed sticking bones to heel for many years damage tissue permanently distorting couple of parts on body significantly increasing difficulty in walking around.Thus young girls were put through immense trauma causing unbearable pain while helping create sexual preference among upper class men.
(source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364815219307388)

It is thus clear that different forms of severe physical & sensational sensory overload can themselves become into addictive habituation cycle releasing optimal dopamine levels rewarding our brain into feeling euporic,similarly people turn out indulging into extreme extatic instances where adrenaline controls them make it more perilous than we originally expect! It seems like human tendency wanting exploring range of emotions has potentially driven us further across endorphin boosted pathway perhaps paving new possibilities ahead !

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