THE FEAR OF PAIN – THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM
Pain, problems, sorrow, grief, etc, are some of the most feared things in this world. Too many people are afraid of pain. Pain has become a phobia on its own. As a matter of fact, to many people, the fear of pain has become the beginning of wisdom. It is the fear of pain that drives people to the gym these days. Because they are afraid of growing old or getting sick. It is the fear of pain that has caused our generation to be so dependent on the pharmaceutical industry.
American Academy of Pain Medicine, states that more than one-quarter of Americans (26%) age 20 years and over – or, an estimated 76.5 million Americans – report that they have had a problem with pain of any sort that persisted for more than 24 hours in duration. [NOTE: this number does not account for acute pain].
Adults age 45-64 years were the most likely to report pain lasting more than 24 hours (30%). Twenty-five percent (25%) of young adults age 20-44 reported pain, and adults age 65 and over were the least likely to report pain (21%).
In some countries, the fear of pain has completely enslaved the whole population, so that they are now under the bondage of medical insurances. Pain has long moved from a personal affair to a societal phobia. Pain has become a national and international rounding point. Seminars are conducted to discuss the subject of pain. New professions are started every day to try to cope with the plague of pain. Pain has gone beyond individual matters. Pain has gone corporate. Industries and companies, now specialize in making money from the pain of others. Billions of dollars are spent yearly to deal with the problem of pain.
According to a recent Institute of Medicine Report: Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research, pain is a significant public health problem that costs society at least $560-$635 billion annually, an amount equal to about $2,000.00 for everyone living in the U.S. This includes the total incremental cost of health care due to pain from ranging between $261 to $300 billion and $297-$336 billion due to lost productivity (based on days of work missed, hours of work lost, and lower wages).
Even though pain could come in different forms, the word is a universal one that can be used to depict any kind of inconvenience. Either psychological, emotional or physical. Pain causes people to withdraw themselves from anything that is the reason for that pain. We run away from pain and we run away from what we regard as the source of pain. So, people will normally run away from those they regard as the source of their pain. We also try to avoid places or circumstances that inflict pain or remind us of past pains.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW…
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, CHURCH AND NATION
By Pastor Sunday Adelaja
