Sunday, May 26, 2019

How pain works in the brain

Plus: Healing from toxic masculinity
Chris Nickels for NPR

The Connection Between Pain And Emotion


As if the physical ouch weren’t enough, pain is a distressing experience for most of us: we might feel fear, dismay or helplessness. That’s because pain signals interact with many different brain areas, including emotional centers. This leads to a complex pattern of activity that can help us remember to avoid painful events, like touching a hot stove. It can also make chronic pain worse.

But emotional processing can help us manage our pain as well. Learn how some pain patients are finding relief.
 
Leonardo Santamaria for NPR

How Men Can Free Themselves From Toxic Masculinity

Should a man go to therapy? Certainly not, according to traditional notions of masculinity. Yet men face higher rates of suicide than women, and can have difficulty expressing emotions.

Sean Jin, 31, wants to change that. As part of the Masculinity Action Project, he leads groups of men to discuss various dimensions of manhood, from “toxic masculinity” to positive traits like courage and leadership.

Sounds like a good idea. But some believe the group is part of a “war on traditional masculinity.”

Learn more about how to support healthy emotions in yourself or the man in your life.
 
Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd./Getty Images

Why It's Not As Easy As It Sounds To Cook Healthy Food From Scratch


Last week, we brought you a story on how eating processed food leads to weight gain and other negative health effects—in as little as two weeks. The study confirms what we’ve known for years: that junk food is bad for you.

But this knowledge doesn’t make it easier for most Americans to eat healthier, according to Sarah Bowen, Sinikka Elliott and Joslyn Brenton, authors of Pressure Cooker: Why Home Cooking Won't Solve Our Problems and What We Can Do About It.

These authors argue that eating whole and nutritious meals isn’t always a matter of choice—it takes time, money and resources many families cannot afford.

Read more about why it's hard for many families to eat well, and how we can help.
 

More of this week’s health stories from NPR


Why this drug costs $2.1 million per dose 

Meet the mites that live on your face

The evidence is in: Reducing pollution reduces kids' asthma


We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of NPR's health journalism on Shots and follow us on Twitter at @NPRHealth.

Your Shots editor,

Carmel Wroth

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