Why can't people these days deal with the slightest little bit of pain?

Question

Why is it that people today are unwilling to deal with any kind of pain? Always reaching for drugs for the littlest thing. Don't get me wrong, I can certainly understand taking drugs if you're in moderate to severe pain, that's understandable, but to pop a vicodin for period cramps? down a handful of advil for a slight headache? Have a tiny cavity filled needing 4 shots of novocaine? Drugging yourself almost unconscious to have a baby? Being put under for a colonoscopy?
Doesn't anyone "tough it out anymore?" Have we turned into a society of wimps and drug addicts?
Please don't respond with "why have any pain when you can pop a pill and not have the pain."
I'm asking this question because 20 years ago people were alot tougher than they are today and I'm curious as to why that has changed so drastically. Nice, Intelligent replies only please!!

Answer 1

I have to say that it's true. I work at a hospital and people get loaded with painkillers. But, I can tell you, not all pain is the same and not everyone tolerates pain the same way. Some cultures tolerate pain better than others. I, personally,don't like to take painkillers, but when you go blind by a migraine or cannot walk because of "period cramps", you got no choice(at least if I want to be able to go to work). I'm not making excuses, because I understand we are living in a lazy, lame, weak society, with no proper exercise,diet, or active lifestyle. How can people sustain pain when it is so hard and painful to get out of the couch and do some cardio?

Answer 2

Good Morning- Have you ever been through childbirth? I have been, and I certainly was not in an unconcious state! I delivered naturally, and DID receive an epidural one time for one particular difficult delivery. 9 lb babies are pretty big. Back Labor is awful- Labor, being the key word, it is hard work. I sustained injuries in an accident nearly 20 years ago. Back then, you stuck it out, right? I am 20 years older now. The aches and pains live with me daily. I do go to a Pain Management Clinic, recieve Trigger Point Injection, and have a tens unit for the areas effected the most painful. Working in the Medical Field, I will agree with you. Each person is an individual. Their metabolism and pain tolerance also plays a factor in their way of dealing with pain. Doctors recommend meds, also recommend Physical Therapy in some cases. I do not sterotype people for being under a Dr's care and having medications prescribed to them. It is those who buy them off the streets or get them through web sites (I hear this is a way to get meds)- that are trying to reach a high due to the meds that you may be speaking of. THAT is when they've gone overboard. Medicine has changed alot in the last 20 years. The mindset is no longer "Take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning." It is now up to a Physician, who people turn to for their pain issues, that prescribe medications, right? Taking a handful of advil is taking WAY too much for a simple headache. Vicodin is WAY too much for menstrual cramps. There are meds out there, over the counter, if the menstrual symptoms are that harsh, as it can be in some women. I do not believe in the theory, "Why have any pain when you can pop a pill and not have the pain?" This is the mindset of a few, not everybody. My Dad lives in Chronic Pain, takes no pain meds, and toughs it out. Could be the new generational train of thought. I do take him to the Pain Management Clinic in order for him to recieve Epidurals in order for him to WALK, and he does utilize a walker. He complains the whole way up there, but, knows he this is effective. This is a good question. Thanks for allowing me to voice my opinion. RE: the colonoscopy- I have worked in Surgery. It is much easier for the Patient to have this procudure done. It is very uncomfortable otherwise, and the test is not always as effective if the patient is awake, as they may move around, and be in discomfort, is the only way I can explain this to you. Hope this helped. We all have our opinions. Take care, have a good day, and a GREAT week-end!

Answer 3

While I definitely agree with your point, I'll answer objectively.

Unforuntately, I really think its because exactly what you said not to use as a justification. Why deal with pain if you don't have to? I guarentee a lot (not all, but a lot) of the "tough" people from earlier generations would have avoided pain if they were able to.
Another way to think about it is that the current generation has been conditioned to think we need drugs. Its been plastered into our minds via commericials, through the doctor's offices and even through school. "I have a tummy ache!" "Then go to the nurse." who will then give the kid a tylenol.

However, here is an additional thought. I hear a lot of people saying that others are hypochondriacs. Essentially, they think everything that feels off about their body equals going to the doctor's and getting fixed. But, the term "hypochondriac" is so overused, that its because common place to use that for a person who simply has a lot wrong with them. And, I think its causing the opposite affect on people. What I mean is that now so many people look down upon those who get medical attention on a regular basis that someone who really has something wrong might ignore it and not go to the doctors because they don't want others to think they are obsessed with their health. To use myself as an example, I had to visit the doctors to get perscription cream for a particularly nasty spider bite (skin necrosis, the whole deal). In a completely unrelated event, two weeks later i got a urinary track infection and needed antibiotics for that, as well. All i heard from people was, "what, do you live at the doctor's office?" and "hypochondriac needs med for everything?" Never mind the fact that I hadn't been to the doctors for anything unusual for two years prior, I was chastised for needed medical attention "all the time." God forbid I have anything else happen, I know I'm going to feel embarassed when I have to leave work early for the doctor's again.
It all boils down to societal influence. The market is making us feel like its either necessary or vital that we take drugs, however society is making us feel like crap for taking the ones we really need.
One final note: I'm not a pill popper, but I have to say I think i'd die without my menstral cramp meds. ;-D

Answer 4

I think it's because we are almost conditioned to look to drugs as an answer. I personally do not like to take drugs, and if I have a headache, I ride it out. I am also planning on giving birth without drugs. I work with a girl who takes some type of pain reliever- Advil, Tylenol, etc, every day and she takes 4 of them at a time! I explained to her why she should not do this and I only hope she listens to me. I guess it is just easier for some people to ignore the signals that their bodies are trying to send by masking whatever pain or discomfort they're feeling. I would much rather be in tune with my body than a zombie.

Answer 5

Because today we have mommies and daddies that just want to shut their kid up so they pop them a pill and keep doing it until the kid grows up only knowing that when they get the slightest pain or illness, they go and pop a pill or take antibiotics. Ridiculous. However, I could sympathize with the woman opting for a epidural. There are still a few people out there that "tough it out".

Answer 6

Since the rise of the pharmaceutical companies at the end of WWII, doctors no longer cure, they treat... and people have become very accustomed to being given something for whatever they want... in general, today's society is a self serving bunch that wants instant satisfaction with no effort or pain.

Answer 7

I can understand why people take pain killers. as for drugging yourself unconscious to have a baby? well in this day and age, why should anyone go though excruciating pain to have a baby. It doesn't make you a better person or mother not to take drugs.
When you ask for intelligent replies, do you mean from people who agree with you? Taking pain killers doesn't make you a "druggie"!
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion!

Answer 8

What is the point of taking pain when you don't need to? We have the technology that can prevent pain, so why not use it. Sometimes it is definetely overused, but most people still "tough" a lot of things out.

Answer 9

medical advances have afforded us the option to medicate for pain. i have a pretty high pain tolerance but there are times that i definitely don't hesitate to use medication, like when i have chronic migraine headaches. sometimes it's not the pain itself but what it prevents you from doing. i really don't care. people can feel free to medicate themselves into a stupor if they feel it helps them in some way. some people just like the way they feel when medicated.

Answer 10

the world's a much different place these days, for starters now theres people going "ohhh no that's gonna hurt sooooo much" rah rah rah scaring people out before they even experience it themselves.

harden up everyone and get the adrenaline pumping, its like a natural morphine created by you in itself...best stuff ever! haha