You see, pain does not hurt us only on a physical level. There are many "forms" of suffering - far worse than "physical" pain. For example, the mental "anguish" of seeing your child hurt, is far worse. "Guilt-feelings" are more agonizing than physical suffering. Indeed, many people seek physical pain, in order to distract themselves from mental agony of guilt. Inner unhappiness and confusion are also types of pain. If you gave some people the choice of great physical suffering, or seeing harm come to a loved one, they would definitely choose the physical "pain" to the mental. Mental "anguish”, or "anxiety" like this, is a kind of spiritual "pain" that can manifest itself into an equivalent physical dis-order, as well. For, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”.
