Pop goes the cork

Why is it that physical pain is far more bearable than the mental variety? I'm desperately trying not to go for the knives or a razor blade to relieve some of the anguish I'm feeling. Fearful that if I start cutting I won't stop. To offset my urge to cut, I'm acting on another urge instead, the urge to drink. I have just opened a bottle of my favorite merlot, and yes I do plan to drink the whole thing. My hope being that if I lose myself in a drunken stupor I can halt the onslaught of other self destructive desires.

Cheers.