THE NATURE OF PAIN

Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or

potential damage, or described in terms of such damage.

Pain is subjective and highly individualized.

Its stimulus is physical and/or mental in nature.
It interferes with personal relationships and influences the meaning of life.
Only the patient knows whether pain is present and how the experience feels.
May not be directly proportional to amount of tissue injury

Signs and symptoms of Pain:

Increased respiratory rate

Increased heart rate
Peripheral vasoconstriction
Pallor
Elevated B.P.
Increased Blood Glucose Levels
Diaphoresis
Dilated Pupils

Qualities of Pain:

Organic vs. psychogenic

Acute vs. chronic (daily for > 6 months)
Malignant (indicating injury) or benign (harmless)
Continuous or episodic

EVIDENCES OF PAIN

Psychological pain or mental pain is an unpleasant feeling (a suffering) of a

psychological, non-physical, origin. A pioneer in the field of suicidology, described it as "how
much you hurt as a human being. It is mental suffering; mental torment."
There is no shortage in the many ways psychological pain is referred to, and using a different
word usually reflects an emphasis on a particular aspect of mind life. Technical terms
include algopsychalia andpsychalgia, but it may also be called mental pain, emotional pain,
psychic pain, social pain, spiritual or soul pain, or suffering. While these clearly are not
equivalent terms, one systematic comparison of theories and models of psychological pain,
psychic pain, emotional pain, and suffering concluded that each describe the same profoundly
unpleasant feeling. Psychological pain is believed to be an inescapable aspect of human
existence.
There are several ways to categorize pain. One is to separate it into acute pain and chronic pain.
Acute pain typically comes on suddenly and has a limited duration. It's frequently caused by
damage to tissue such as bone, muscle, or organs, and the onset is often accompanied
by anxiety or emotional distress.
Chronic pain lasts longer than acute pain and is generally somewhat resistant to medical
treatment. It's usually associated with a long-term illness, such as osteoarthritis. In some cases,
such as with fibromyalgia, it's one of the defining characteristic of the disease. Chronic pain can
be the result of damaged tissue, but very often is attributable to nerve damage.
Both acute and chronic pain can be debilitating, and both can affect and be affected by a person's
state of mind. But the nature of chronic pain -- the fact that it's ongoing and in some cases seems
almost constant -- makes the person who has it more susceptible to psychological consequences
such as depression and anxiety. At the same time, psychological distress can amplify the pain.