How to Define Pain

What is Pain ?

In her book The Pain Chronicles, Melanie Thernstrom(1) describes physical pain as," being in a different realm, a state of being unlike any other, a magic mountain removed from the familiar world as a dreamscape".

A quick journey to dictionary.com(2) provides seven different definitions for the word for the word  pain.

They are :

noun

1.

physical suffering or distress, as due to injury, illness, etc.

2.

a distressing sensation in a particular part of the body: aback pain.

3.

mental or emotional suffering or torment: I am sorry my newscauses you such pain.

4.

pains,

a.

laborious or careful efforts; assiduous care: Great pains have been taken to repair the engine perfectly.

b.

the suffering of childbirth.

5.

Informal . an annoying or troublesome person or thing.

verb (used with object)

6.

to cause physical pain to; hurt.

7.

to cause (someone) mental or emotional pain; distress: Your sarcasm pained me.

Pain has been with us since the very beginning. Many passages of the Bible(3) talk about pain.. Here are just a few of them:

Genesis 3.16:

To the woman he said,
‘I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing;
   in pain you shall bring forth children,
yet your desire shall be for your husband,
   and he shall rule over you.’

Job 14.22:

They feel only the pain of their own bodies,
   and mourn only for themselves.’ 

Job 16.6:

‘If I speak, my pain is not assuaged,
   and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?

Psalm 38.17:

For I am ready to fall,
   and my pain is ever with me.

Jeremiah 15.18:

Why is my pain unceasing,
   my wound incurable,
   refusing to be healed?
Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,
   like waters that fail. 

John 16.20:

Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will   rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.

Revelation 21.4:

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Death will be no more;
mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
for the first things have passed away.’

Stay with me on this pursuit of a pain=free life and together we will explore different aspects of PAIN.

Until Next Time,

Live, Think and Be Pain-free,

Joy:)

References:

1. Melanie Thernstrom, The Pain Chronicles copyright 2010 by Melanie Thernstrom.

2. dictionary.com = WWW.dictionary.com

3. The Holy Bible, New Revised Stander Version"New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.