How do "pleasure chemicals" affect your symptoms?
 

I got to wondering just how endorphins/endomorphins affect our symptoms. Try this mental exercise- Imagine that you are being peacefully cradled in loving arms to quiet music. Or something along those lines. Based on lesser experiences, how would you expect it to affect your symptoms?

In my own case, if my wife holds me when the meds just won't kick in, within ten minutes they do. If a similar effect is widespread it might be a clue to a new treatment.

Many times
 

when my meds don't want to kick in or I'm feeling stressed -if someone with a peaceful personality just comes and visits with me I'll settle in and its amazing to me. I have experienced it mostly with female friends.

Kissing releases dopamine too. A friend told me if her husband massages her hands it helps.:hug:

How do endorphins relate to dopamine? Are they connected biochemically? I think they both act in the basal ganglia. Is compulsive behavior linked to pleasurable chemicals? There's a lot going on in that basal ganglia!