I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

I tried to keep from crying.

I could not keep the tears from my eyes.

Tom was trying hard not to laugh out loud.

When the wound got infected, he experienced a bout of unbearable pain.

When Heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility on a person, it must first distress their mind, exhaust their muscles and bones, starve their body, and deprive them of resources, making their actions go against their will. This is done to stimulate their heart and temper their character, thereby increasing what they are capable of.