Why do people's pain threshold differ?

[wyldkhatdd]

Ok, so I have a very high pain threshold...If I am cut, I dont really feel it.

Last year, I broke my leg, and it didn't even really hurt. So my question is what's the reason for people being able to handle different amounts of pain?

[thebigchill]

well i reckon its because everyones brains are different. i have a theory that as brains are soooo complicated, it would be statistically impossible for everyone to have identical brains, indicating that however small the difference, all brains are different. while it may not show in everyone what that diference is, i motion that this is the logical reason. Who's with me?

[David H]

Yes, I agree. Everyone's strengths and senses vary, so pain is only a variation on feeling, and just like some people get angry or anxious compared to others when reacting to exactly the same event, so would people's other senses vary.

Yogis can learn to control these automatic functions through meditation and other practices, and enhance or reduce them accordingly, like building any other ability like lifting weights.

[jno]

Don't forget that pain is meant to hurt, it's how you know there's something wrong. Personally, I'd be a bit worried if I didn't notice I'd broken my leg! On the other hand, I'd happily do without headaches.