Those of you who have followed this blog or CATNIPblog know I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 1996. That’s approximately when my battle with eating too much – preferably carbohydrates mixed with liberal doses of refined sugar – began. I eat constantly throughout the day. If I’m bored, depressed, upset, happy, sad, tired, excited, I eat. My theory was I was self medicating, creating a dopamine surge in my brain to dull the fibro pain. Mice are now disproving my rationalization. Mice of all things. Who knew?
The Mouse “Knows” by judy
Penn neuroscientists have found that animals’ brains can suppress feelings of chronic pain when they are hungry.
The study, which was published in the science journal Cell, found that temporarily shutting down chronic pain is part of animals’ survival behaviors when searching for food.
According to a press release, approximately 300 neurons are capable of shifting the brain’s focus to hunger, thus eclipsing the effect of chronic pain.
The researchers apparently didn’t set out expecting that hunger would influence pain sensation so significantly, but when they saw these behaviors unfold, it made sense to them. “If you’re an animal, it doesn’t matter if you have an injury, you need to be able to overcome that in order to go find the nutrients you need to survive.”
The Penn team also discovered that the neurotransmitter NPY is primarily responsible for selectively suppressing pain responses. This research could potentially be applied in humans to ameliorate chronic pain after injuries and serve as an alternative to opioid medications.
Naked Mole Rat sez: “At your service. We rodents are here to help”.
CURIOUS to the MAX 
Wow, that’s some interesting revelation. Maybe that explains why people who are in shock or extremely depressed sometimes are not interested in food at all (it’s that case with me anyway). As if one could stop the inner pain by that, though of course it never really works as far as I can tell. On the contrary, when depression hits eating well (and healthy) is so important.
I hope that whichever way you choose it will help you with the pain!
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Sarah,
My guess is that since each of us has a slightly different neurochemical make-up research is “RE-search” and what applies to one doesn’t apply to all. However, I still think some of the findings are fascinating and ultimately the mind-body is trying to protect us, heal us and guide us. I’m guiessing with this research the pain response may be dampened if not eliminated. (we don’t want to eliminate pain – it’s a critical messenger that something ain’t right!)
Thank you for your great comment – I hadn’t thought about those instances.
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I think your voice should be heard by all doctors and researchers since it is proven that we all are a bit different from each others and yet medicaments don’t respect those differences enough, like with adults-childs, women-men. If course it would mean huge expenses on behalf of the health systems which is why these things won’t be properly handled, although some beginnings are being made.
Sorry for the rant! 😂
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Good Rant! Over the years almost all the research was done on men – that’s one of the reason heart disease and attacks are the number one killer of women (not cancer). Hopefully the research is beginning to use female mice . . .
RANT ON!
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I will! 😄
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Rats! I hate when common sense and science disagree.
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Jacqui,
Who ever said “sense” was common!!!!????
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So, we should stay hungry to hurt less? Interesting.
BTW, I’m there with you now.
I don’t know what happened with me, but I can’t seem to stop eating.
I’m having a very hard time with it. Mentally it’s scaring me.
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Wendy,
Don’t let it scare you cuz that will only shift your neurochemistry to eat. Depends what you’re eating but it could be to boost pleasure centers for a dopamine hit (we’ve written a lot about that on http://CATNIPblog.com) Also when you’re under stress with the move your brain is looking for “survival” and it wants you to eat before all the food runs out.
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Well, I have plenty of food, my body needs to stop this crap. 🤣😉 And it can look for pleasure elsewhere. Perhaps I should have sex more. I 😉😅
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Wendy,
Indeed! Pleasure centers are located all over our bodies.
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This is fascinating research. I still wish there was an easier way to eat healthy foods and leave off the sugary crap I don’t need. Will power is in short supply in my corner, unfortunately. With your chronic condition, a healthy diet is even more important. You know I hope you feel better and get better.
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Shari,
I too share your wish. I have lots of will power it’s the “won’t power” I’m lacking
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I’ve read about people who eat 20% less in order to be healthy. I don’t know how you determine 20%, but I know when I’m hungry that being more hungry doesn’t satisfy me and I usually eat something. It’s teaching myself to eat something healthy that I find hard.
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Shari,
Tell me how you teach yourself to eat something healthy. I struggle with that and find myself eating fruit or berries and then 10 minutes later chase it down with bread and butter. If I only ate when I’m hungry it would probably be fine but I find myself eating constantly and never give my body a chance to be hungry. It’s harder and harder the older I get.
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That’s the same problem I have – I don’t stop. I don’t eat all day long, but if I’m really hungry, I’ll overeat instead of eating until I’m full, which is a reasonable amount of food. But I’m also horrifically overweight – you’re not. The difference between what I need to lose and what you want to lose is another person.
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Shari,
Another person that is 18 months old!
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You forget that I know you in the real world, dear friend.
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Shari,
I’m not forgetful just in denial . . .
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