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	Although millions of people plagued by pain would happily do without it, under normal circumstances pain performs an important function. Acute pain is a signal for alarm. It warns us when something within the body isn't quite right and thus helps to protect and retain our health. When we accidentally touch a hot plate, we react within fractions of a second to the sudden pain. Even before properly having become aware of the event, we automatically pull back our hand. Following a fracture, tearing of a ligament or operations, pain forces us to rest, so that the injury or wound can heal more easily. Often we only take action or go easy on ourselves upon feeling pain. It is due to this, that in most cases the dentist is only visited once acute pain has set in.     Every person feels pain differently. The physical and psychological state also plays a part in this. That is why we do not always immediately become aware of pain when under stress. Immediately following an accident, for example, one often does not feel any pain despite having been injured, because the body is under stress or shock. It is only when the stressful situation has passed, that pain emerges in its full intensity. This reaction, too, helps us to cope with stressful situations and dangers. The intensity of pain-awareness is, next to physical processes, strongly influenced by our emotions and senses. Feedback processes between pain, state of health and exertion can influence the sensation of pain. Poise, joy of living, and inner calm act in a relaxing manner and make pain more bearable. Worries, restlessness and fear, in contrast, lead to tensions that can make pain unbearable.