Depression Heightens Sensitivity to Pain (HealthDay) (Yahoo)
 

HealthDay - FRIDAY, Nov. 7 (HealthDay News) -- When anticipating pain, the brains of people with depression kick into overdrive and hinder their ability to handle hurt, a new study shows.

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(From Yahoo Diseases)

Depression heightens pain response. In my own experiance I find the opposit for myself. Sometimes when I feel depressed I will go out and try to cause myself to have my back hurt really bad by doing something that makes it really hurt. Maybe it depends on the person a little bit then, I don't know.

I dont remember where I read it so take with a grain of salt, but I believe the area of the brain that handles anxiety and depression is also an area of the brain that is active with pain response.

I can tell you that when I am very anxious to the point of hyperventilating, my neuropathic pain throughout my body is very high.

This appears to be a study done from the Depression side as opposed to the Chronic Pain side, but the "new" information seems to be technical. The relationship between CP & Depression has been well-documented for a long time. In many circles it's known as one of the "Vicious Cycles" - some times with other symptoms (e.g. insomnia) thrown in - other times not. See: http://tinyurl.com/34nro8q

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