Hammer Time

People generally dislike pain.

Physical pain and emotional pain:

Which is worse?

Emotional. It is far harder to control.

But sometimes people enjoy pain's recoil;

It makes them feel better for the moment.

It's the itch people can't stop scratching.

~Itchy? No problem. The solutions is all too simple:~

~Scratch now and feel the itch disappear.~

[They fail to tell scratching makes the itch worse]

If the source of pain is the hammer,

Why do people keep hitting themselves over the head with it?

Because: 

When you finally stop hitting yourself, it feels soo good.