Pain is something we all experience, but the way our brains respond to it can be surprising—and even protective. CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta recalls one vivid childhood moment that illustrates just how complex our body’s response to pain can be.
At age 12, Gupta tried to vault over a wrought-iron fence and misjudged the jump. One spike pierced his side, traveling from back to front. Thankfully, it didn’t penetrate the chest or abdomen, but it was a serious injury. Remarkably, Gupta remembers a sense of euphoria as he hung from the fence—a response he attributes to the body’s natural pain relief system.
“For some people, it reacts really vigorously—like really, really churns out a bunch of endorphins,” Gupta says. “You could have this really ironic situation where you’ve got a terrible injury and you’re almost laughing. It’s a very protective sort of response from the body.”
Training the Brain to Manage Pain
In his new book, It Doesn’t Have to Hurt: Your Smart Guide to a Pain-Free Life, Gupta explores the science behind pain, the medications used to treat it, and strategies to help the mind minimize discomfort. One key idea: distraction and meditation can change the way your brain perceives pain.
“People are usually hyper-focused on a particular sensation,” Gupta explains. “Being able to take them out of that hyper-focus can be really helpful. You could take someone’s pain score from really terrible pain to a zero out of 10 … for the 30 minutes that they are meditating. I think the brain can be trained that way.”
This approach highlights a growing understanding in neuroscience: pain is not only physical—it’s deeply intertwined with perception and emotion. By learning to shift attention, engage in mindful breathing, or use guided visualization, people may reduce their pain levels without additional medication.
Why It Matters
For those managing chronic conditions or recovering from injury, Gupta’s insights offer hope. While medication and medical care remain essential, simple mind-body strategies may complement traditional treatment and improve overall quality of life.
Pain is complex, but our brains can sometimes turn down the volume—if we know how to train them.
