Dear Alessa,

Funnily enough, medication for pain relief these days is turning to neurotransmitters. Not because of mental health, but it turns out neurotransmitters manage a lot of functions in the body. Serotonin apparently blocks pain signals in the spinal cord. And regulates sleep, which is very important for managing pain sensitivity.

Wow, I didn’t know that! I’ve looked it up and really, studies have shown that antidepressants are efficient in treating chronic pain. The recommendation is to weigh the pros and cons, because I guess antidepressants can have some negative side-effects. I guess you’re right – it’s best to look for natural serotonin boosters, such as exercise and sunlight.

I didn’t know it either that sunlight increases serotonin. I read that:

sunlight significantly increases serotonin production in the brain, boosting mood, focus, and feelings of well-being.

Cool! It actually makes sense, because one feels better when there’s sunshine, specially in winter. But I didn’t know it was because of serotonin 😊

I’m glad you’re feeling better after receiving your medicine. And that your son is sleeping better too! 🤞 🙏

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year, Alessa!

✨ ❤️

Dear Alessa and Tee:

It is news to me as well that certain (not all) antidepressants are used for pain management. So, I read that if you think of your nervous system like a volume knob-

Pain signals travel from your body → up your spinal cord → into your brain.

Some antidepressants turn down the “volume” of those pain signals.

How they do this-

Antidepressants increase certain brain chemicals — mainly serotonin and norepinephrine — that help the nervous system Block some pain messages, Calm overactive nerves, and Reduce sensitivity to pain over time

Mayo Clinic explains that these medications may increase neurotransmitters in the spinal cord that reduce pain signals.

Research shows they can help with many chronic pain conditions, especially nerve‑related pain: Nerve pain (neuropathy), Fibromyalgia, Back pain, Arthritis pain, Migraine or tension headaches, and more.

They don’t work instantly — usually 1–6 weeks to feel the full effect.

Which antidepressants are used for pain?

Two main groups: 1. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and 2. SNRIs which boost both serotonin and norepinephrine:

Harvard Health notes that SNRIs — especially duloxetine — are among the most effective for many pain conditions.

I further read that antidepressants, especially SNRIs like duloxetine, work best fir “back pain, knee osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, nerve pain, and postoperative pain” and they avoid the long‑term risks of opioids.

Wow, I didn’t know… Thank you both.

🩵🩵 Anita

Anita, I like watching the dog whisperer. The guy doesn’t just train the dogs but also the owners. This way both the dog and the owner have what they need from the other. One is the leader and the other is a follower. Remember that dogs take their cues from their owners. If you are depressed then they will be too. If you are happy then they are running around happy too. Dogs can be happy just hanging around you all day. Oh, I like the one video where the dog has a bunch of buttons that can be pressed to say words. The dog knows what is being said. They can ask for food or to go to the park.

Alessa, sorry to hear about the illness. That is going to happen more when kids start going to school. One thing my wife makes us do is to wash our hands as soon as we get home. This way, whatever we touch outside isn’t all over what is inside our home. Everyone knows about taking off their shoes so as to not drag dirt from outside into the home. But, washing hands is helpful too. Hope you feel better soon. That is tough to do if one doesn’t get enough rest. Constantly having to prepare meals can be tiring. Then the dishes afterwards. So, sometimes, I make lots of food then have leftovers for two or three days. Always be careful in storage and handling. Making sure to reheat to 165 F for at least 5 to 10 minutes.

Alessa, I wish I had some good advice to give. All I know is to take the baby to the doctor whenever there was an issue. So, baby with fever? And not keeping food down? That would have me sitting in the emergency room for hours. But, I had my mother and wife to help. Wife use to work in a hospital and had some medical training in her country.