Who is he who likes pain: a sadist or a masochist?

Physical and mental pain bring suffering to people.

However, there are certain deviations in which a person experiences pleasure from pain , he likes it, without suffering he cannot get pleasure.

The opposite of such people are individuals who love to cause suffering. Both pathologies need correction.

Who are sociopaths and why are they dangerous? Find out about this from our article.

Who is a sadist?

The very definition of the word “sadism” appeared because of the French writer Marquis de Sade (1740-1814). He became famous for his cruel behavior, evil character, and his works often had sexual overtones.

The Marquis De Sade gave the name to sadism

A sadist is a person who takes pleasure in the suffering of other people . Moreover, a sadist can either cause pain to other people or simply be an outside observer. Sadism is a pathological quality, as it gives pleasure through the suffering of other people.

Examples of economic violence in the family

The third common type of violence is financial. What is it? There are so many stories of women on maternity leave to whom their husbands give them money as checks! How many women who, being housewives, become financially dependent, and their husband literally keeps them in a black body: “Why do you need to wear makeup? I don’t wear makeup!”, “You already have boots” (and I don’t care if they get wet).

How many men refuse any woman’s request to buy something necessary for her, citing the fact that the woman spends too much. What does too much mean? And that means at least something other than food. Because for such men, the mother of his children and his wife’s status is like a cat: fed and that’s enough.

At the same time, the woman does all the housework and raises the children. And of course, she sleeps with her husband, a financial abuser. Sleeping for love? Or does he sleep for food and a yearly roof for himself and his children? Here's something to think about. Because there is no greed in love. At all. Anyone who spares money for you, and especially for children, does not love either you or the children. He loves the comfort that you provide him, and the money, of course.

Types of sadism

Like all mental disorders, sadism has several types: physical, psychological and sexual.

Physical sadism consists of violence, infliction of physical pain, beating, suffocation. The sadist takes pleasure in inflicting physical pain on the victim.

Sometimes physical abuse can lead to serious injury and in some cases even death.

Psychological sadism involves inflicting moral suffering on the victim. Insults, humiliation, belittling of a person’s moral qualities - all this can be attributed to psychological sadism.

Ramsay Bolton is a sadist from the series “Game of Thrones”.
Typically, this type of bullying is inherent in people in leadership positions (directors, teachers, professors, civil servants).

Have you met sadists in real life?

This type of sadists is divided into two types:

• “Honest” - they always tell the negative truth to a person , watching his reaction and torment;
• “Well-wishers” - these people receive negative information about a person and, under the guise of help or in a normal conversation, use this information against the person, enjoying the emotions of the victim .

Do you know who a masochist is? The answer is in our article!

Sexual sadism is manifested in obtaining sexual pleasure by inflicting pain. Just like psychological, sexual sadism is divided into two types:

• Aggressive is the most dangerous type, which can lead to death of the victim. It includes physical and psychological abuse;
• Visual - a sadist only imagines causing violence without realizing it.

Attention: no matter what type of sadism a person suffers from, it should be remembered that it is directly or indirectly dangerous to society.

Kevin from the movie "There's Something Wrong with Kevin"

Why do some people love pain?

To a person who loves pain, it gives something. What exactly? The main thing it gives unhappy people is attention to themselves. She also carries compassion. People around us are used to feeling sorry for suffering people, which is why some people get used to experiencing pain. It is in this case that they receive maximum self-compassion, understanding and attention. People who love pain love it because at certain periods of life it can be fashionable. For example, some groups of teenagers themselves promote suffering among people. In their opinion, you should look like a martyr, behave in a similar miserable way, shed tears and blame the entire world around you for your troubles. Therefore, there are people who like to suffer and blame others, not wanting to notice their own mistakes.

Causes of sadism

Like most human mental disorders, the roots of the disease should be sought in childhood . Dysfunctional families, children growing up in an environment of cruelty and violence get used to and adapt to this model of behavior, which subsequently affects them in adulthood.

Also, the reasons may occur for the following reasons:

• Head injuries;
• Other mental illnesses;
• Features of sexual perception;
• Hidden complexes.

Physical and sexual violence in relationships

There are many types of domestic abuse, but we will start with the most basic ones.

The first and, unfortunately, known to everyone is sexual violence or rape. Inducement to have an intimate relationship against the will of the victim.

It seems that everything is clear: violence is when a stranger catches a victim in a gateway. But not only this - this is also when a husband forces his wife. Alas, yes! Imagine: a wife is not a thing, and has the right to refuse. If a husband is not ready to loyally accept a refusal, he is a rapist. And he commits abuse. Sex is an act of love. And it must be done according to mutual desire. Anything that is not mutual is sexual violence.

The second type of violence is physical. Beats does not mean loves. Hitting means NOT loving. Hitting means causing harm! But the concept of physical violence is also not simple. When it comes to domestic violence, for some reason everyone imagines knocked out teeth and broken bones. But it is not so. Physical violence includes being pushed, grabbed, sharply pulled by the arms, choked, or slapped. “I let go a little,” many victims say.

And this is not “a little bit”, this is a BELL that you need to leave and preferably urgently. The one who pushes you and twists your arms today can kill you tomorrow. And this is not an exaggeration. Everything develops gradually. Murdered victims of domestic violence were also initially pushed and pinched. Remember this and tell your daughters.

How to recognize a sadist

Since the root of the problem may go back to childhood, it is necessary to monitor the child’s behavior. Cruelty to animals, rudeness, aggressive character - all this may indicate that in the future these negative qualities will not be revealed for the better.

As for an adult, there are obvious signs that may indicate violent tendencies:

• A person constantly humiliates in public ;
• The person lacks empathy ;
• Captures all attention to himself, but does not give it himself;
• Always looking for a reason to accuse the interlocutor of something;
• A cruel sense of humor also indicates unhealthy human behavior.

What is masochism?

Masochism was first mentioned in the works of the psychiatrist Krafft-Ebing at the end of the 19th century. This deviation is named after the writer L. Sacher-Masoch , who described similar perversions in his novels.

Masochism as a personality disorder is expressed in the inability to obtain sexual satisfaction without pain and humiliation.

After extensive research, psychiatrists have found that physical pain is not the main element of satisfaction, they get true pleasure from submission, and pain is one of the elements of submission .

This disorder (algomania, algophilia) occurs in 2.5% of men and 4% of women.

Masochism does not always manifest itself in real actions. Sometimes it can be fantasy , that is, a person imagines himself in the role of a subordinate and humiliated.

Real masochism is the pleasure of contact with a real dominant person.

It is expressed in the following forms:

1. Rude attitude. The partner humiliates and shows rudeness during the foreplay stage.
2. Verbal humiliation (rude words, insults) without physical violence.
3. Feeling of insecurity . A person prefers to be tied up, chained, and takes pleasure in the awareness of his own helplessness.
4. Physical pain. The individual receives satisfaction only after feeling physical pain.

Causes

Masochism as a personality disorder develops for various reasons.

Psychoanalysis describes the following factors in the development of female algomania :

1. A child is born through pain, after which the woman experiences the happiness of motherhood, so the cause-and-effect relationship is clearly imprinted in her brain: pain = happiness.
2. The first sexual contact is also accompanied by pain, which subsequently leads to pleasure.

Psychiatrists believe that the roots of the problem go deep into childhood. The child experiences mental suffering and humiliation; only through submission can he receive the love of his parents.

Provoking factors for the development of deviations are:

1. Loss of emotional connection with mother . If a child experienced a constant feeling of guilt and tried to earn love, then the tendency to submit will remain with him for the rest of his life.
2. Inferiority complex . Pathological dissatisfaction with one's appearance, generated by the attitude of loved ones, and a feeling of inferiority lead to the desire to be punished.
3. Constant physical punishment, oppressive education . If parents constantly demand submission from a child, beat him, lock him in a room, deprive him of sweets and walks, then such a child will get used to the role of a subordinate. That is, a clear relationship will be formed between suffering and receiving the love of parents.

Symptoms

Some signs of masochism are present in many people .

Is it possible to cure a sadist?

How can you help a person suffering from such a mental disorder? It’s worth noting right away that there is no specific treatment for sadism . But medicine does not stand still and successfully uses methods such as hypnosis, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, coupled with drug treatment.

In especially severe cases, the patient may be prescribed antiandrogen drugs, which dull the tendency to violence . Treatment is carried out both on an outpatient basis and in hospitals, depending on the severity of the disease.

An important criterion in cure is the patient’s role itself. A person must want to overcome his illness and make every effort to do so. Otherwise, all attempts to help will be in vain.

What are such people called?

In psychiatry, people who enjoy experiencing pain are called masochists .

In medicine, masochism includes not only sexual perversion, but also a personality disorder, which is expressed in a negative attitude towards oneself, rejection of help, the desire to sacrifice oneself , denial of people who treat this person well.

The opposite of masochists are sadists . These are those individuals who experience pleasure from causing pain and suffering to other people.

Some psychiatrists view sadism and masochism as pathologies that go together ( sadomasochism ). However, not all scientists are inclined to think so and propose to distinguish between the two concepts.

Sadism is not included in the ICD as a separate diagnosis and refers to mental disorders.

How to get out of an unhealthy relationship?

Are you currently in an unhealthy relationship full of arguments, misunderstandings and even violence? If you have already tried various trial and error methods to fix it but still end up frustrated and emotionally drained, then it is time for you to get out of this unhappy, unhealthy relationship and stop suffering.

If you don't know how or where to start, here are 5 ways to get rid of this suffering:

Complete the game of denial

Sometimes, even if you know a relationship is unhealthy, you refuse to admit it because you don't want to lose the person you love. Perhaps you're so used to spending time with him that it feels "comfortable" and you don't want to step out of your comfort zone. However, you will never be able to find a way out of this relationship if you do not admit that you are suffering in it . Stop denying that you are NOT okay. Have the courage to admit that you are no longer happy in this relationship.

Overestimate your importance

Just because you've been together for seven, eight, or ten years doesn't mean you should stay with someone who doesn't make you happy and happy. If the relationship is unhealthy, remind yourself that you deserve better. Know your worth. You deserve to be happy . You deserve the kind of love that will allow you to love yourself even more, not the kind that will make you lose yourself.

Realize the benefits

One way to help you permanently leave an unhealthy relationship is to acknowledge the benefits. Think about the good things that will happen when you break up with him . Have you lost contact with your friends because your boyfriend is too jealous and wants you to be with him everywhere? This means you will finally have time to reconnect with your friends. You will have the opportunity to meet new people. See your future more complete, interesting, colorful, without these emotional failures and fixation on toxic relationships. You will love your freedom.

Remember who you used to be

To help yourself understand the need to let go of someone, think about who you were before you got into a relationship with them. Have you changed a lot? Were there things you couldn't do anymore because he didn't want you to do them? Think about things you used to like but had to give up. If you find that you don't know yourself right now and are too emotionally and mentally drained, you have more than enough reasons to end this relationship.

Plan ahead

Cog

In fact, there is no ideal time to break up with your partner, you just need to choose any convenient moment to talk about problems and come to a conclusion. Think about the appropriate setting and what you will say to inform him of your decision to break up. Planning can help you end the relationship in a smart way without saying too much at the wrong time.

Victim syndrome. Why do some people like to be unhappy so much?

Statistics and psychology are difficult to combine, but experts assure that according to the latest data, now every third person suffers from victim syndrome.

It was these people who found the self-isolation regime the most difficult, because, unlike many who found advantages in this “lifestyle,” they continued to live according to the principle: it was bad, but it got even worse. The VM columnist talked with experts and found out what to do for people who feel that everyone around them is to blame.

Everyone knows that living happy is better than living unhappy. But not everyone manages to become happy. But it’s one thing when some kind of tragedy, grief, that is irreversible, happens. But in most cases we are unhappy through our own fault. Victim syndrome often prevents us from living in harmony with ourselves and the world around us.

“She” will always take the smallest piece from the plate, deny herself everything, but later tell her friends how her family treats her in order to listen in response to an ode to her sacrifice and a confession that her talents were ruined by the heartless people around her. “He” will be quiet at work and will not be promoted for years only for the reason, in his opinion, that “pathetic upstarts” are valued, and his superiors are unfavorable to him. Together they are undemanding to themselves and confident in their rightness, because they do not have self-criticism. They are people with victim syndrome, and they have one thing in common: those around them are always to blame for their troubles.

Sad manipulators

In fact, psychologists assure that such people are both hostages of their syndrome and manipulators who skillfully “cut” coupons from it.

“In a different situation, everyone can try on the role of a victim, if only because sometimes it is important for people, especially those who do not have warm relationships with others, to be pitied, reassured and cared for,” says psychologist Vladimir Kovalev. “You may consider this a manifestation of weakness, lack of will, childishness, but I assure you that this is only a consequence of our dislike for each other, a chronic lack of human warmth. So, from time to time, the desire to feel like a victim should not particularly frighten anyone.

Another thing, the specialist explains, is that we play various kinds of games more often than we would like. Playing the victim is dangerous, because it can drag on and change your life beyond recognition. But the main thing is that the external image of the victim, if its demonstration is prolonged, never lets go of the one who tried it on for too long, and changes the quality of a person’s personality.

“The main feeling of a person suffering from victim syndrome is that circumstances rule over me and my life, which always decide the matter not in my favor,” explains Vladimir Alexandrovich. — There is no attempt to control one’s life, and there is no concept of happiness or even the rudimentary stage of optimism in such a person. He is a complete pessimist, his life is painted only in the darkest colors, from everything that happens, he expects a catch. Even a normal proposal from another person - they say, let me help you - can cause shock and harsh denial: no, why do you need this, and what will I owe later, and so on. By the way, devaluation of the value of human relationships is one of the post-components of the syndrome we are analyzing, because, while changing the fabric of the personality, it also distorts everything that surrounded and surrounds this personality. Such a person is sure that nothing good will happen to him simply by definition, and happiness definitely bypasses his home. Moreover, there is no way to change this distorted perception, no matter what arguments you give to prove the opposite.

After such words, it would be a shame not to think - do I have victim syndrome? Especially if you are now being haunted by a bad streak, of which, as you know, there are many in life. But psychologists say: a temporary decline in mood is a period of recharging, that is, in fact, the norm. But victim syndrome is a completely different matter. Such people are fueled by their own negative emotions and feelings.

“But the trouble is that people with victim syndrome do not suffer from their misfortune alone,” explains Kovalev. “They don’t just constantly complain, blame others for their troubles and problems, but in every possible way contribute to the growth of such feelings as aggression, violence, devaluation of the value of other people, intolerance.

As a result, these “unfortunates” are in fact manipulators, communication with whom poisons the lives of those around them.

“Victim syndrome is a kind of personality disorder,” says psychologist Irina Bestemnaya, “the characteristic feature of which is the search for a fictitious external reason for the persecuting failures. The victim of the syndrome believes that he is a hostage to circumstances or negative actions of strangers. It is clear that under the influence of these thoughts the behavior of such a person changes; he sees evil intent in everything and is suspicious beyond measure. But where does this problem come from and why do they talk about it so often today?

Origins of the problem

“It is now believed that victim syndrome does not have a hereditary factor, however, of course, if in a family from generation to generation there is a tendency to develop certain mental illnesses, then the syndrome in the next representative of the family “sleeve” may be more likely to manifest itself,” says Irina Bestemnaya . — Of course, some kind of mental trauma can affect the development of the syndrome. This usually happens at an early age, when a person’s emotional background has not yet been fully formed and is extremely susceptible and even vulnerable to external factors. Let's say a child gets physically injured. Of course, they feel sorry for him, but if this regret takes on hypertrophied features, if a certain “buffer zone” has now been created around the child and everything is allowed to him, he endlessly hears that he is the most unfortunate and poor, then, of course, when the causal factor disappears, the attitude towards the situation remains the same, it is already fixed in his mind that he is the most unfortunate, and he, as if on legal grounds, continues to demand hyper-love for himself and hyper-care, feeling like a victim of circumstances, even if he does not yet know such words. And he will try to attribute everything that follows to the previous reason.

Another important point is excessive guardianship, which many modern parents who have read popular books are so guilty of. Children of “mother hens,” actually irresponsible mothers, grow up in an atmosphere that is not conducive to nurturing an adequate personality, psychologists believe. Parents' worries about their children are understandable and correct, but when they become an obsession, the person grows unhealthy. Children get used to the image that is imposed on them by overly busy mothers, and cannot get rid of it even as adults. A typical example is given by Irina Bestemnaya, explaining this reason for the problem:

— Friends of my parents raised their son in love. His father, alas, died early, leaving his mother behind. The son, naturally, the smartest, the most beautiful, but also the most unfortunate, because everyone has a dad, but he doesn’t, grew up selfish and narcissistic, which, however, did not negate his positive qualities - he is still not a complete pessimist. However, after a short unsuccessful “student” marriage, destroyed partly because of his self-centeredness, the mother explained to her son that he was now definitely the most unhappy, and the only person who would definitely not offend him was, of course, only her, mother, to whom he should be grateful for everything. As a result, he lived his life near her; the career failures that haunted him were explained by his mother by the villainy of his colleagues and superiors, and not by the inertia of his son, and only after her death did he unexpectedly find personal happiness. No matter how terrible it sounds, his life was “stuck” by his own mother, who simply did not allow him to live his life, but forced him to live her own, feeding the victim syndrome inherent in her son.

In addition, Irina Aleksandrovna notes, the formation of the syndrome, albeit to a lesser extent, is influenced by family circumstances - when, for example, under the heel of an overbearing husband or under the heel of an overbearing wife, the psyche of their unrequited, downtrodden and always guilty “halves” is formed.

Well, if fate does not go according to the scenario that, as it seems, it should have gone, and a person, for example, is not promoted to the position for which he expected, many “break down” and take on the image of a victim of circumstances, which in this situation is so beneficial. They cannot give a sober assessment of what happened, and escalating the situation allows them to completely abdicate responsibility for what happened and appear as a victim of intrigue, counting on compassion.

How to recognize an “illness”

Is there a way to distinguish between victim syndrome, “pressure on pity,” and temporary weakness?

- Yes, you shouldn’t confuse two different concepts. It’s one thing to want understanding, it’s another to arouse pity. Victim syndrome can, of course, have different manifestations; in rare cases, it is buried so deeply that it will not be noticeable to the unprofessional eye at all,” says Vladimir Kovalev. “But we can still identify several of its most characteristic manifestations. For example, a very significant feature is non-recognition of any personal defeats, denial of one’s wrongness, going to the extreme. This may seem strange, but in fact you will understand how logical it is. A person with a distorted picture of the world is accustomed to believing that he is a victim of circumstances, intrigues, and malicious intent. There is no self-criticism in him at all. Of course, even without this syndrome it is extremely difficult for people to admit they are wrong, but with victim syndrome the degree of self-justification increases. What is curious is that a person with victim syndrome can be very timid in life, but, trying to justify himself, he finds the strength to “raise his voice”, and even more than that, he is happy to find the culprit or shift the blame onto someone else, since this is very logically included in the concept of his life structure.

Such people, continues Vladimir Aleksandrovich, are extremely self-centered, for them only their own reasoning is important.

- If you try to convince such a person of anything, he either will not listen to you or will openly ignore all your arguments. If you are persistent, I assure you that real hysterics awaits you, since this is how a person will prove to you that he is right,” adds the specialist.

Among other traits of “victims,” Vladimir Kovalev especially highlights pessimism and suspicion, the expectation of “setups” from colleagues and acquaintances, obsessive thoughts that everyone is doing well except him: other people live happier, richer, they are “fortunate” .

“They often say that people with victim syndrome are hostages of their own character,” adds Irina Bestemnaya. “But the “victims” are also a kind of abusers, in their own way, “mirrored” from the classic abusers. With their supposed non-resistance, eternally sour expression, and suffering, they oblige those around them to treat them somehow differently, not like everyone else.

And Vladimir Kovalev adds to the “portrait”:

“Pediting the theme of their misfortune in every possible way, such people set themselves the only goal - to do everything in order to deserve recognition. They need it like air, and every step they take, no matter how insignificant, needs to be highly valued. If this does not happen, a person with victim syndrome falls into depression and doubts - whether everything was really done as it should, and therefore he was not given what he deserved, and will suffer until he receives public (the size of society is not so important) recognition .

And another feature characteristic of people with victim syndrome, according to Kovalev, allows us to talk about the scale of the spread of this syndrome. This is an avoidance of responsibility - from the banal reluctance to put away toys in childhood to the reluctance to get married due to fear of taking responsibility for the family.

“Since the position of a victim seems attractive to immature minds, and the removal of responsibility from oneself is a generally cultlike state for many, the manifestations of this syndrome are increasing and in our time appear in many very young people,” the psychologist notes. “At first, of course, they only manipulate the situation and those around them, but then they get used to the role and feel great in the niche of “I don’t know anything, I’m not responsible for anything.” In addition, it is typical for such people to point out only the negative aspects of life in a conversation, to see only the bad in everything, as well as a complete inability to refuse anyone’s requests. They are afraid that they will be offended because of the refusal, which will give rise to a new wave of their criticism. Moreover, in fulfilling a request, even if it is unpleasant for them, people of this type will show unjustified, stubborn independence. This trait of nature leads to the fact that stubborn people are left without help even when they need it.

And also, adds Irina Bestemnaya, they will always take the blame, demanding for this respect and high appreciation of their moral qualities...

How to get rid of the problem

The life of a person with victim syndrome is painted in dark colors. He has few reasons for joy, he is in constant suffering. Moreover, they are not able to get out of this state on their own, because it is convenient. And only if a person is at least partially aware of the problem and agrees to leave the imaginary comfort zone, changes are possible.

So, experts say that the first step towards change is recognizing the existence of a problem. This is difficult, because, as already mentioned, people with victim syndrome are manipulators. The next step is to gain determination, to agree that universal recognition and love cannot be the meaning of life, and successes come not as a credit for suffering, but as a reward for working on yourself. You will have to learn to take responsibility for your actions, convincing yourself that this is a great pleasure, and also overcome the desire to please everyone.

A special role in changing the situation is given to loved ones. It is not helpful to listen to complaints about life and feel sorry for a person if you understand that he is to blame for his troubles. Want to help him be happier? Stop supporting his weaknesses, take him out of the world of illusions, which sooner or later will turn him into a deeply unhappy person with a crippled psyche.

BY THE WAY

Experts identify several types of victim syndrome, the most typical and common in modern society. These are, of course, women who are victims of violence from domestic abusers, but who justify the cruelty of their spouses or partners towards them, finding a lot of explanations for their actions and behavior.

In addition, these are children of overly cruel parents who nurture a victim complex from an early age. Alas, it is precisely such children in their teens who sometimes commit cruel crimes - in the event that the scope of the victim syndrome becomes too small for them.

FACT

Victim syndrome is more common in females. Experts have found that the disease is not congenital and is not inherited. In the development of the syndrome, risk factors play a certain role, directly or indirectly capable of influencing it, but its sole or main trigger has not yet been determined.

REFERENCE

Psychologists call the so-called Stockholm syndrome one of the most unusual manifestations of victim syndrome. Now this term in psychology describes “a defensive-unconscious traumatic connection, mutual or one-sided sympathy that arises between the victim and the aggressor in the process of capture, abduction and/or the use of threat or violence.” The term was coined by criminologist Nils Beyerut while analyzing the 1973 hostage situation in Stockholm.

Before Beyerut, similar behavior of victims (understanding, compassion and even protection of aggressors) was described in 1936 by Anna Freud, who was studying the mechanism of psychological defense underlying this syndrome. In the Stockholm episode, the hostages treated the bank robber who captured them well, justifying his behavior as hopelessness, and after their release they asked for mercy. True, experts say that Stockholm syndrome goes away after the murder of the first hostage.

How does the pill know where it hurts?

How does pain medication work? When a person takes a pill or is given anesthesia, the drug breaks the very connections that are transmitted by nerve impulses to the brain. That is, pain relief occurs through effects on the central nervous system (CNS). And the sensation of pain is formed in a part of the brain called the thalamus. It is also responsible for processing information from the senses. It is worth noting that the level of pain largely depends on the state of our consciousness: past experience, mood, motivation, emotions, hormonal levels. For example, the “happiness hormone” endorphin reduces pain levels. Thanks to this property, an interesting phenomenon was discovered - swearing can reduce pain. Remember, if you hit yourself and immediately cursed, you immediately feel a little better. This is all endorphin - it is produced when you let off steam.

Read also: Why did pirates drink rum?

Episode II: Attack of the Nerve Fibers

Using examples, we figured out how nociceptive receptors work, but they are located “at the leading edge,” close to the stimulus, and the order for pain sensations is given from the brain. This means that it is necessary to convey the signal to the highest authorities. To do this, the newly received receptor action potential activates a variety of voltage-gated ion channels. Sodium and potassium channels are required to generate action potentials that transmit nociceptor signals to synapses in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. They are another potential therapeutic target for new groups of analgesics. Calcium channels play a key role in the release of neurotransmitters from central or peripheral nociceptor synapses, causing pain or inflammation, respectively.

is important to note at this point that the nerve fibers that carry the nociceptor signal to the spinal cord are of three types - Aδ (a-delta), Aβ (a-beta) and C. These fibers differ from each other in thickness, the presence or absence of an “insulating” myelin sheath and, as a consequence, in the speed of nerve impulse transmission and the type of impulse that is carried through them.

Aδ fibers conduct impulses quickly (10–30 m/s) and “specialize” in signals of severe mechanical pain and temperature changes.

Aβ fibers are even faster (30–100 m/s) and are heavily myelinated. The mechanoreceptors located in these fibers are extremely sensitive, so the function of these fibers is to conduct signals about weak stimuli. Excessive activation of Aβ fibers causes allodynia —pain that occurs from causes that do not normally cause pain, such as sitting in a chair.

Type C fibers conduct nerve impulses slowly (0.5–2 m/s); These are mainly signals from highly sensitive mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors.

C and Aδ fibers work synergistically to produce most of the pain sensations.