Can our emotions affect the pain that we feel?

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You might feel the stab of pain in your stubbed toe or sprained ankle - but that sensation is actually processed in the brain, and our state of mind can affect how much pain we experience. Memories, anticipation of pain and our emotions can all influence what we feel. Irene Tracey, Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetic Science at the University of Oxford, describes how a sense of unease or anxiety can override even the strongest painkiller. (Image: Man taking pill. Credit: Getty Images.)