While you might eventually grab an ice pack or see a doctor when you’re in pain, dropping a few f-bombs is your best initial defense. According to this video by AsapTHOUGHT, swearing while in pain allows us to tolerate more discomfort for a longer period of time, a phenomenon known as lalochezia. Swearing is linked to emotion, and since many swear words come from taboo topics (sex, poop), there’s something exciting about saying them. When we yell out these emotionally charged words, it sparks a biological response in our bodies to help us tolerate pain. But you can build up a tolerance to lalochezia—the more you swear the less it helps. So be sure to use your sh!ts and fu*cks sparingly.