10 Commonly Misunderstood Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Phantom Chronic Pain
There has been a number of studies done which link bipolar disorder to bouts of phantom pain. But just because a doctor says it isn’t real doesn’t make it feel any less painful. Patients suffering from mania describe sensations like migraines as well as muscle and joint pain. Unfortunately, it can take time to diagnose this symptom for what it is. A study done by the National Institute of Mental Health found just over a quarter of the adult population in America suffers from chronic pain. With numbers like that, it easy to see how a symptom like this can be missed.
While the root of phantom pain is not known, there are a few popular theories. Some research suggests that the part of the brain dealing with pain also controls reward mechanisms linked to motivation. Many psychiatric disorders impair the ability to process pain as. Thirdly, because pain is so heavily linked to stress, some believe phantom pain is the bodies’ way of asking for help.
