To handle pain, do you expose yourself to it?

Hormesis is a branch of science that studies the beneficial effects of administering small to moderate doses of noxious and/or painful stimuli, such as cold, heat, gravitational changes, radiation, food restriction, and exercise. Hormesis comes from the ancient Greek hormáein: to set in motion, impel, urge on.

The above concept is utilized in exposure therapy wherein people are exposed in escalating increments to the very thing they fear —being in crowds, driving across bridges, flying in airplanes—that causes the uncomfortable emotion they’re trying to flee, and in doing so, augment their ability to tolerate that activity. In time they may even come to enjoy it as the tolerance is built with repeated incremental exposures.

Exercise, which is immediately toxic to cells, leading to increased temperatures, noxious oxidants, and oxygen and glucose deprivation, with evidence proves it is health-promoting. Thus, Anne Lembke concludes in her chapter on pain in her book “Dopamine Nation” that “If we consume just the right amount, “inhibiting great pain with little pain,” we discover the path to hormetic healing, and maybe even the occasional “fit of joy.”

But pursuing pain is harder than pursuing pleasure. It goes against our innate reflex to avoid pain. So, next time you have some moderate pain, what would you do? Would you take some pill, distract yourself, or expose yourself to the experience? If you do expose yourself, then you would allow homeostasis (biological self-regulation towards stability) to do its work and hopefully emerge more stronger to deal with far more challenges (painful should I say?) in life.