Why Pain?

I'm not convinced that Pain is the main reason for TMS....(Pain as a distraction)....would not "Denial" be just as (maybe more) an effective a tool for the unconscious mind to use?

Is it because this is a Pain Forum that Pain is highlighted?

Does Denial have any role to play?

 

I think many of us also use denial as a defense mechanism against confronting and feeling difficult emotions. However, I think the use of physical symptoms is more effective as it keeps us so fixated on the body that other thoughts and emotions are not likely to intrude. I have personally had difficult emotions break through denial, where I found myself reacting emotionally to a trigger, but with no conscious awareness of why. Once I was able to make to the connection, my physical symptoms became worse and I developed new ones to keep me from feeling the emotions.