xander wrote:I relate hardcore to getting angry at physical pain.
I have chronic pain issues. It's inconvenient to say the least.
One thing that's really helped me is something that sounds really dumb. If it's sudden pain (such as stubbing your toe), it's instinct to swear, I think. I've trained myself to take a sharp intake of breath instead. This reminds me to commence deep breathing. It doesn't have to be "calm" deep breathing, because it probably won't be knowing me. But training yourself to breathe in reaction instead of shouting in reaction is really good.
How to train youself:
Every time you have sudden pain (like stubbing your toe, crashing into something, etc.), take a sharp inhale. Even if you've already sworn/shouted for a while, that's okay. Just take a sharp inhale after that. Then a sharp exhale. Repeat until your breathing isn't sharp.
I don't know, it sounds easier than it actually is. But it helps if you can train yourself to do this!
Hi Xander,
yes, if the pain is sharp enough, the Brain will totally revert to Primal and away from the Higher and Outer Lobes altogether, that is, you wouldn't be able to Say or Think in terms of Words even if you wanted to. It takes Higher Functioning to Think and Speak in Words. Yes, Cuss words and Grunts are on the way down to the more Primal Areas of the Brain. When you start swearing, you are definitely descending the Evolutionary Ladder.
I remember decades ago when I really smashed my left thumb with a hammer, accidentally of course. that is what happens when you do on the job training as a framer. the only thing worse is to do on the job training in a restaurant doing 'prep' -- there, instead of a hammer you have razor sharp knives. People lose fingers for the rest of their lives for friggin minimum wage! But, back on subject, the pain from smashing my thumb was so blinding that I was quite speechless for a long while. And my Deep Breathing was in gasps.
Oh, by the way, as much as I have repeatedly say that the use of Swear Words only intensifies Anger, in regards to simply dealing with Pain, well, it has been shown in Clinical Studies that Cussing Through Pain is the Best Releaser of Dopamine, and Dopamine significantly aids in reducing the discomfort of severe pain. And reacting to pain is not the same as being angry. Pain can even happen to a Saint.
I do not believe very many people are Fired from their jobs for swearing when a truck runs over their foot, or their hand gets caught in a slamming hatch (but, yes, some Brainless Corporations are out there that have implemented Zero Tolerance Policies, mostly because the people who wear White Shirts are involved in almost Zero Percent of Industrial accidents).