[neverdem]

Study Points to a Solution for Dread: Distraction The NY Times suggests a coping strategy.

Neurobiological Substrates of Dread (Science abstract)

Given the choice of waiting for an adverse outcome or getting it over with quickly, many people choose the latter. Theoretical models of decision-making have assumed that this occurs because there is a cost to waiting—i.e., dread. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we measured the neural responses to waiting for a cutaneous electric shock. Some individuals dreaded the outcome so much that, when given a choice, they preferred to receive more voltage rather than wait. Even when no decision was required, these extreme dreaders were distinguishable from those who dreaded mildly by the rate of increase of neural activity in the posterior elements of the cortical pain matrix. This suggests that dread derives, in part, from the attention devoted to the expected physical response and not simply from fear or anxiety. Although these differences were observed during a passive waiting procedure, they correlated with individual behavior in a subsequent choice paradigm, providing evidence for a neurobiological link between the experienced disutility of dread and subsequent decisions about unpleasant outcomes.

[mwyounce]

Given the choice of waiting for an adverse outcome or getting it over with quickly, many people choose the latter.

I learned this as a kid when I put a Band-Aid on my leg and it stuck to the hair.

It was either pull slowly or yank it off....

[FlingWingFlyer]

This could also explain the pain from torture that the "courageous," Islamic terrorists are always crying and whining about when we detain them. It's just the anticipation that gets them all riled up.

[Thinkin' Gal]

Later, participants were given choices: Would they prefer a medium jolt in 5 seconds or 27 seconds? What about a mild jolt in 20 seconds vs. a sharp one in 3 seconds?

[neverdem]

Of Penises and Pesticides - Are synthetic chemicals responsible for male shortcomings?

The rotor that spins on a bubble

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[ordinaryguy]

Among people who volunteered to receive electric shocks,

So, they performed a study using subjects who volunteered to receive electric shocks. That isn't exactly the mainstream population is it?

[jwh_Denver]

Heck, this ain't new. The first year of "24" one of the characters said "threatened pain works better than realized pain". Of course Jack did both.

[Agnes Heep]

The anticipation of pain causes stress, which in and of itself is painful. However, given the choice between stress and actual pain, I think I'd choose the former.

[Graymatter]

As an extreme dreader (learned behavior, due to sado-dentistry) who would put off pain on the slightest chance the test would be called off before I got there...I wonder how many procrastinators were interested in participating in this experiment involving electrical shocks, and missed the deadline to sign up.

And I wonder what part of that result can be attributed to procrastination and what part to the inclination to avoid electrical shock and the company of people paid to deliver them.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Don't watch when they stick you; you are less likely to flinch.

[Grampa Dave]

Been there and done that. A year ago, I tore my right bicep in 3 places and the bicep head. This was over previous shoulder injuries including a torn rotator cuff.

I started Physical Therapy, tp in late May. I got where I dreaded visits to my physical therapist in just a few visits.

One day my wife, who had just recovered from a broken right shoulder from a fall with over a years therapy told me I had to view these trips differently.

She said I needed to think about how much better I felt 1-2 days after the PT. So I focused on the positive side, and I no longer dreaded the PT.

After this change I asked my phyiscal therapist to treat me 3 times a week instead of twice. When this happened, I made some dramatic break throughs and was able to start casting my fly rods again. After about 3 months, the therapist suggested that I make a film of what I did and go back to twice a week, with me being the therapist the third day.

At the end of 7 months, I was discharged from pt. Then I saw the original assessment, where the therapist hoped that I would regain 40 to 50% of my pre injury mobility, strength, standing up straight and walking correctly. I'm happy to say that in many of these areas, my functions are better than before the injuries.

Thanks to my wife suggesting that I not focus on the pain of the session but on how much better I was after the session. The dread went away and recovery speeded up.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

This is the whole concept behind Lamaze. His method was to do things mentally to distract the brain from feeling/sensing pain, and to do physical things as well, such as standing up and getting the diaphragm and rib cage high off of the uterus during the contractions. Worked for me - my 2nd and 3rd births were virtually pain free, once I figured out what Dr. Lamaze was going for.