This week I learned a lot about the concept of stress and pain, as we defined stress

according to Ogden as “terms of pressure, tension, unpleasant external forces, or an

emotional response” (Ogden, 2019, p. 52). I learned a lot about pain and read many
reviews about Tsai. And others, during my research on the subject of pain, my
research also introduced me to pain management theories, particularly the Gate
Control Theory. This theory fascinated me as it explained how pain signals travel
through the body and the interplay between the brain and spinal cord.

I found this theory very amazing because it introduced me to how the feeling of pain
is transmitted through the body and the relationship between the brain and the
spinal cord and the certain factors can influence this "gate," either opening it wider
(increasing pain) or closing it tighter (reducing pain). I was really impressed. I was
excited to search for it more and more, and I was very excited because I study
computer science. As you know, we have an obsession with hacking systems. I was
thinking about how I could hack my body’s environment to control the feeling of
pain that accompanies me annoyingly at times. I know the topic will seem strange,
but I found that controlling this feeling follows the term closing the gate means
inhibiting the transmission of hormones by the nerves and thus not feeling pain. I
translated that in my mind to mean, as I think, this is the function of painkillers. But I
learned that even simple techniques like stress reduction and maintaining a positive
outlook can be effective. You may find that strange, but it is a proven topic and
proposed by the theory of Melzack and Wall (1965), where the idea was presented
on the contrary, stating that negative emotions such as stress and anxiety can
increase the activity of excitatory neurons in the spinal cord, enhancing the
transmission of pain signals.

Therefore, I believe the most impactful applications of this theory lie in personal and
community well-being, as discussed in Ogden's book. Reducing stress and
maintaining a positive outlook are crucial. Facing fears and seeking early intervention
are also important. Ultimately, we shouldn't let physical, financial, or social obstacles
hinder our recovery and overall well-being.

Reference :

1. Melzack, R., & Wall, P. D. (1965). Pain. Science, 150(3969), 971-979.

https://link.springer.com/10.1007/978-3-030-39903-0_1134
2. Seeking virtual social support through blogging: A content analysis of
published blogposts written by people with chronic pain or download the PDF
by Tsai et al., 2018
The Tsai et al. article reviews the impact of social support on chronic pain.
3. Jane Ogden - The psychology of health and illness_2019.pdf