When T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) held his hand over the candle flame, his companion-who could bear watching no longer-asked, "Doesn't it hurt?" Lawrence replied, "Of course. But the trick is in not minding that it hurts."

People like to believe that physicians, based on their special knowledge of how the body works, have invented painkilling drugs to solve all the problems of pain. The opposite is closer to the truth. Modern science is now beginning to teach us that learned behavior and psychological factors exert a more powerful influence on the degree of pain experienced from an injury than can be accomplished with mind-numbing drugs.

Pain is not only felt at the point of injury but also in our thoughts and feelings. For example, educating mothers and fathers about childbirth pain has taught us that the brain's ability to regulate the oncoming traffic of painful experiences is much longer-lasting than the temporary relief provided by drugs that simply causes dilution of courage.

Indeed, "gritting one's teeth" in the face of pain is a lonely experience, not a courageous one. But learning new ways to think about-and deal with-our physical and emotional pain is an adaptive, courageous process. Relaxation, preparedness, suggestion, biofeedback and self-monitoring are all effective, modern techniques that rescue us from the loneliness of pain. We know that the false courage that comes from "crack" cocaine, alcohol, opium and morphine is short-lived and ultimately self defeating. 

"Behavioral Medicine" is the new frontier in modern-day rehabilitation from chronic pain, prescribed medication overuse, and reactions to chronic stress. And it works.