The part of him in too much pain to think of anything other than ways in which to stop it, you mean? Yes, I’d agree with that.

I hear you there. (And I hope you're not spending a lot of time in that place right now. *hugs* ) If the Doctor was in enough pain at that point of courting death for its own sake, as he did at least once in Season 3, then giving up the essence of the man he is isn't so far off. (And not necessarily better in his eyes.) And, even then, he wasn't able to repress who he was completely.