Tylenol and Social Pain

Acetaminophen For Mental Health Relief
By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on December 22, 2009 A provocative new research study investigates the possibility that over-the-counter pain relief drugs may be helpful for treatment of depression and anxiety.

Use of OTC medications for physical aches and pain has been commonplace for decades.

A research team led by psychologist C. Nathan DeWall of the University of Kentucky College of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology has uncovered evidence indicating that acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) may blunt social pain.

“The idea that a drug designed to alleviate physical pain should reduce the pain of social rejection seemed simple and straightforward based on what we know about neural overlap between social and physical pain systems. To my surprise, I couldn’t find anyone who had ever tested this idea,” DeWall said.

According to a study due to be published in the journal Psychological Science, DeWall and colleagues were correct. Physical and social pain appear to overlap in the brain, relying on some of the same behavioral and neural mechanisms.

DeWall and colleagues investigated this connection through two experiments. In the first experiment, 62 healthy volunteers took 1,000 milligrams daily of either acetaminophen or a placebo. Each evening, participants reported how much they experienced social pain using a version of the “Hurt Feelings Scale” – a measurement tool widely accepted by psychologists as a valid measure of social pain.

Hurt feelings and social pain decreased over time in those taking acetaminophen, while no change was observed in subjects taking the placebo. Levels of positive emotions remained stable, with no significant changes observed in either group. These results indicate that acetaminophen use may decrease self-reported social pain over time, by impacting emotions linked to hurt feelings.

“We were very excited about these initial findings,” DeWall said.

“The next step was to identify the neural mechanisms underlying the findings.”

In the second experiment, 25 healthy volunteers took 2,000 milligrams daily of either acetaminophen or a placebo. After three weeks of taking the pills, subjects participated in a computer game rigged to create feelings of social rejection.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) employed during the game revealed that acetaminophen reduced neural responses to social rejection in brain regions associated with the distress of social pain and the affective component of physical pain (the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula).

In other words, the parts of the brain associated with physical lit up in the placebo subjects when they were rejected, while the acetaminophen group displayed significantly less activity in these brain areas in response to rejection.

According to the academic paper detailing the experiments: “…findings suggest that at least temporary mitigation of social pain-related distress may be achieved by means of an over-the-counter painkiller that is normally used for physical aches and pains….

“Furthermore, many studies have shown that being rejected can trigger aggressive and antisocial behavior, which could lead to further complications in social life…. If acetaminophen reduces the distress of rejection, the antisocial behavioral consequences of rejection may be reduced as well.”

Researchers caution that readers should not immediately stock up on acetaminophen to ease social pain and anxiety, noting “[t]o be sure, our findings do not constitute a call for widespread use of acetaminophen to cope with all types of personal problems.

“Future research is needed to verify the potential benefits of acetaminophen on reducing emotional and antisocial responses to social rejection.”

Long-term use of acetaminophen has also been linked to serious liver damage, so it is important for patients to follow all package directions and consult their physicians if they are contemplating taking any medication for an off-label use.

“This research has the potential to change how scientists and laypersons understand physical and social pain.

“Social pain, such as chronic loneliness, damages health as much as smoking and obesity. We hope our findings can pave the way for interventions designed to reduce the pain of social rejection,” DeWall said
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The Chinese system views the liver as holding grief. The western view is use a pill to defeat the attempts to detoxify chemicals produced during stressors i.e. cortisols. It feels better until you die. I am glad someone is trying to find a use for a drug I no longer use die to its liver toxicity problems. The Dr I fired in 2006 was of the mind to add on to an already overloaded toxic load I had in my body. It works for some people it did not work for me. One more thought acetaminophen makes the pain of not only pain(sic) but also invisible pain of our social malaise. Brittany Spears ass used to do this for me. I am jaded.

A Poem

Those who are strangers to war
Should devote themselves with fervor
To Music
Those who are strangers to war
Should devote themselves with fervor
To Music

Put down the fences and arms
Raise up your hearts and your voices
Turn off the burglar alarms
The world is a refuge of choices

Those who have given up hate
Are free to be part of the oneness
Do not compete or debate
Fullness is emptiness wholeness

All my Relations
All the Directions
All of the deepness
Inside of me

My mitochondria pulsing with hydrogen
A mystical miracle called ATP
For without this stuff there would be no me
Even though Geshe-la says this can't be

All who are strangers to war
Should devote themslves with fervor to music.
a 13th century mystic maybe influenced by Rumi.

Generosity

One of the perfections is generosity. I know of one organization, The Salvation Army does many things for those who have fallen under the bus, as the last bus is pulling out of the station. Most of the people served, I found out, are women with children. Imagine that, helping homeless poor people. Some who have recently come to his country seeking a place to build a home and perhaps,if they are lucky, raise a family. We are not all born free. In fact this is all a lie. We go against the grain by being generous.Mr Greed is not a a character in a Dickens story.Greed is the emotion of fear the Tibetans call hungry ghosts. These emotions eat our minds of compassion and replace them with attachment, one of the things leading to suffering. Generosity, at the intial look, seems something for foundations and others who have enough abundance to practice. This is an incorrect view. The mind of poverty is the mind of fear. Capitalism creates the urges to only accumulate and not to give. The SA, as I was saying, is a refuge for those wrecked by the fallacy that all are created equal. They provide housing rehabilitation from alcohol drugs and abuse. They re-educate and provide literacy and ESL training for first generation immigrants. How they do this is a faith-based. But the root(mission statement) of the organization is charity aka generosity. I know we are all awash with requests for donations, this time of year even more. Generosity is built into religion as tithing in dining as tipping. It is engrained because it is going against the grain or nature of the hungry ghosts lurking on the fear circuit and going beyond these obligatory expressions of generosity is a way of saying to the universe," I have enough, Thank You Very Much."
I put my music tips in the Bellringer can yesterday as I left Walmart and I told the girl, "I am glad you are here." I recognized my blessings. I have enough if I accept it. It takes a little time but it is a choice as to accepting your grace or to feel envy at another's wealth or contempt for another's poverty, addiction, or illness.
Equanimity and generosity work hand in hand. Hand over your blessed currency.

Winter's first chill Fall's last offerings

I am in school again after a long summer of adjustment after 10 years in the Bay area. I have made new friends and renewed old friendships. I am singing more now after two years away from the gigs with Nikki and the girls culminating with our trio of me Jenny Lane and Nikki. In those two years I got the rare opportunity to play hard jazz with a very great man and artist, Vince Wallace. I am not sure if I will ever play with him again, though I wish to always be "ready for NYC" if the call comes to me.
Yesterday,I rode my bicycle out to the Umatilla River. There is a new park there built since my father died in 1995 which was the last time I spent much time here. On the edge of the river in the park there is a grove of nettles, yes, stinging nettles, the kind that makes welts if they get to sting you. I collected a large bag of leaves for tea and for cooking and a smaller bag of aerial parts for my daily tonic for rhinitis.
I also finally decanted a St John's Wort/olive oil tincture I started the summer with after gathering dancing and singing as I picked the herbs and the wild flowers halfway through a 20 miles bike ride. I would later put the wort in olive oil and leave in the sun to make a soothing ointment for the frigid months ahead.This summer I also gathered and prepared tinctures of yarrow, mullein, dandelion, nettles,cactus flowers, astragulus, and burdock.
The roses and all the flowers not under the eaves have started to wilt. I have one rose I have covered with 5 buds still not opened. The last rose to open was so beautiful. It's in the kitchen by the sink right now. Two cabbages I nursed all summer finally started growing in earnest in late August. I have them covered but I am not sure if there will be much more growing to be had as the sun gets lower on the horizon.
I am now playing in three musical groups, karaoke jazz with a brass guy, a variety band of 5 and a country rock band of 6, all with the same brass guy. Not Vinnie Wallace but at least its indoors and more than once a week. Having my family back for better or worse is fine. They know me,and so far, haven't filed papers on me. I have a place to practice and a place to play. What more could a guy like me ask for? Good medicine and good friends to listen. I am grateful for all these things.Did mention I wrote one new song? I had forgotten about it. It was on my trip to SF after the long summer.
Riding my bicycle through the Haight was enough to inspire "The Goddess is Here!"
I am getting beter. Not that there aren't some challenging days, but I have laughed again for the first time in a long time.
Someone wants me healthy. Their wish in mine also.
Namaste.

Hotter Than July It is All Ready.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hermiston&state=OR&site=PDT&textField1=45.8406&textField2=-119.288&e=0

Sitting and sweating almost like an Inipi experience. maybe my friend is right only the sick and the possessed should try too much heat. The corn is happy as a Bixby farmer in Tulsa.
Limeade sounds real good right now.
Now I know one reason the speaking in tongues phenomena persists. Its just a mild heat stroke.
Check out this week end's Bartcop.com blog, he's got the pulse of some of the nation no one seems to be right correct or moving easily. Take a break .

Questions for Senator Merkeley

This was what I asked about yesterday. Today, the Oregonian newspaper(sic), said the single payer "Oregon/Wyden Option" is "Too Radical ". I heard the losers complain about higher taxes and socialism Lions tigers and bears Oh My!
I heard Rep Walden this morning on the radio state that single payer health care is “off the table” yet a substantial majority over 90% of Democrats support some system to cover 45 million Americans with no access to a regular dr and preventive/wellness programs offered through HMOs.
We spend more by far per capita yet 18-20k people die prematurely due to poor medical access and/or no insurance.
At one point in our history medicine was a sacred practice, Now money trumps ethics and hence injustice results.
Senator Merkeley, can you tell me why Senator Baucus left no seats for anyone representing those 45 million people in the Senate ways and means committee meeting on health care finance? Anyone who did ask these questions was arrested. Senator Baucus and Grassley made a joking matter in fact, I watched the video. This is no laughing matter. Where is the shared sacrifice from the fats cats who sit on the boards of the medical and pharmaceutical corporations? Why can’t medi-care be extended to all Americans?
When will we have national parity laws for mental/nervous disorders?

Two Gigs One Day

Today I woke up early for the Farmer's market. My friend plays trumpet, trombone, and flugelhorn. He sings also but is not as serious as I am about it though he is a bit serious about most everything else.
We have had two gigs as a duo since I have moved back into this place. The video is up from this morning.We made money and now I have paid my saxophone repair bill.
The sight of an old neighbor and two classmates made my day.
Tonight with 6 people making music it became tense as we added another person to sing. I would rather just use a piano than try to use the rhythm attachment but I don't play much bass or treble for that matter so I have no point except that I had to check myself and keep myself grounded and as simple as things are I still can't do everything> It's a lot just to play in a bar after 2 years away from Beckett's.
I had many flashbacks. My own old ways only prevented by a good diet and the understnding which comes after asking for just that. I don't remember being angry or rude , it just was interpreted as such. and my nature was not as i seemed.
I felt the love. Others poisoned by fear ignorance and hunger saw their own story played out. My own has been one of dependence. It is not out of weakness but as a result of many compromises and sacrifices i have made to remain in my domain playing. Now I have to ask once more if the music goes on then i need help.It shall remain as there in Cali, here I also may need the help of others.