Louise Hay Jaw Pain? All Answers

I have had the privilege of being a physical therapist since 2003. My interest in jaw rehabilitation began later in my career when some of the dearest people in my life were complaining of facial pain and jaw popping.

Although they had already asked their family doctor and dentist for answers, they could not find relief. I remember thinking to myself, “There must be a way to help.”

Access to effective treatment for jaw problems is still relatively scarce in the healthcare industry. Motivated by this, I devoted many months to studying jaw mechanics, from which I developed my own unique treatment methods.

Today, jaw physiotherapy accounts for most of my workload and brings me the greatest satisfaction of my career.

The link between stress/anxiety and jaw pain

Stress can unconsciously contribute to us clenching more often than usual, which creates more pressure in the jaw (or temporomandibular joints). Over time, this can lead to poor control of the muscles responsible for opening and closing the mouth.

If this problem is not addressed, our brain (which controls these muscles) can lose its ability to remember the correct position and movement of the jaw. Combined with the physical effects stress has on our posture and neck and shoulder muscles, we have a disastrous brew.

In all my years of treating jaw disorders, the biggest connection my patients share is an increased level of stress and sometimes even anxiety.

“Pain is best treated with very gentle jaw exercises that can be done quickly and discreetly at home or at work.”

By Meredith Dunford, PT, MSPT, OCS, Cert. DN, CKTP

Does your jaw bother you when you’re stressed? The temporomandibular joint and stress have a unique bond. For many people, jaw pain and aches are secondary to stress.

Stress is how the body responds to and deals with harmful situations, but prolonged stress can manifest itself in physical ways. Clenching your teeth puts additional strain on the jaw muscles and increases the pressure on the temporomandibular joint. As a result, jaw pain, muscle pain, toothache or headaches can occur. Managing stress can help relieve these symptoms.

Here are six tips to reduce stress:

Identify Stressors – Write down the times of day or things in your day that cause stress. Avoid Stress or Adjust Your Situation – Stress usually increases when we run out of time for the demands we have. Prepare for stressful situations. Set goals and priorities. Decide what needs to be done and what can wait. Acknowledge what you have been able to achieve. Learn to say “no” to things that overwhelm you. Ask for help. Change Your Response – If you can’t avoid a stressor, try changing your reaction to that event. Don’t just react. Choose your answer. Breathe in and find “the space” between the trigger and your reaction. Accept when things get out of hand – Don’t get bogged down in anger. learn to let go Make a list of what you are thankful for. Live Healthy – Adopt a regular sleep schedule and aim for eight hours in the same daily cycle. Exercise to boost your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, endorphins. It doesn’t have to be exhausting. Starting with 30 minutes of walking at a comfortable pace 3-5 times a week can help. Find a way to relax with purpose – Unavoidable stress needs to be balanced with activities that help relax your mind. Listening to music, meditating, taking up a hobby, doing abdominal breathing, yoga, or mindfulness can help release tension physically and give the mind a positive focus. It doesn’t matter what you choose, as long as it draws your attention to something more calming.

If these tips don’t help and jaw symptoms persist, a physical therapist can help relieve the pain. Through massage, ultrasound, manipulation, and dry needle techniques, physical therapy can help with:

• Reduction of headaches

• Relief from neck pain

• decreasing locking

• Improving freedom of movement

• Return to normal function/reduce dietary restrictions

Call (804) 764-1000 or fill out our contact form to schedule an exam with a therapist knowledgeable in TMJ disorders.

Share on Pinterest Illustration by Maya Chastain You’ve probably heard the term “emotional baggage” before. It is sometimes used to describe the phenomenon of carrying past trauma or so-called negative experiences through life, relationships, or a career. You can see this in a person’s posture as if they were carrying an unbearable weight. It can even prevent them from moving forward in life. Everyone carries some degree of unprocessed emotion from experience. However, emotions that are not processed do not simply go away. You can influence: The way you think about yourself

how you react to stress

your physical well-being

Your Relationships with Others After all, emotional baggage gets its name from somewhere, right? Let’s unpack the layers of how and where emotions get stuck so you can let go of what’s weighing you down.

What does it mean to have “trapped” emotions? You may have heard of people crying during a yoga, massage, or acupuncture treatment over a sensitive area that, when activated, seems to result in emotional release. Although some speak of trauma as being “stored” or “trapped” in the body, that’s not necessarily a scientific way of putting it. However, the symptoms of traumatic stress can manifest themselves physically. This may be because the brain associates that area with a specific memory – often at a subconscious level. Activating specific areas of the body can trigger these memories, according to Mark Olson, PhD, LMT, owner and director of the Pacific Center for Awareness & Bodywork. “Emotions are constantly being generated—unconsciously or consciously—in response to the reactivation of memories or unfulfilled goals,” says Olson. “Touching the X-area is simply a reliable stimulus to reconstruct the pattern associated with that traumatic event.” Touch can evoke emotion, or a memory can evoke sensations in a specific area of ​​the body. While this is usually associated with a body location, Olson believes it all happens in the brain. Alternatively, some believe that trauma and difficult emotions can actually become literally stuck energy in the body, although this is not supported by scientific evidence. According to Bradley Nelson, DC, trapped emotional vibrations cause the surrounding tissues to vibrate at the same frequency known as resonance. In his book The Emotion Code, Nelson writes, “Each trapped emotion resides in a specific location in the body and vibrates at its own frequency.” This can cause you to attract more of that emotion, he says, causing congestion or a blockage occurs. Still, Nelson’s stance remains theoretical until further research can be conducted.

How are emotions captured? However, research as early as 1992, along with more recent research, supports the mind-body connection, or the belief that a person’s mental and emotional health affects their state of physical health. A classic example of this is fear. When you find yourself in a situation in which you are afraid, your body creates a physical response to that emotion by activating the fight-flight-freeze response. According to Nelson, three things happen when an emotion is experienced. We develop an emotional vibration. We feel the emotion and any associated thoughts or physical sensations. This is where the connection between body and mind comes into play. We move away from the emotion by processing it. According to Olson and other research, emotional processing occurs in the limbic structures of the brain. We are constantly absorbing information that creates preconscious responses from the autonomic nervous system. This sends a signal to the body and activates the corresponding emotion. In other words, your “feeling” comes from what your nervous system is telling you. According to Nelson, when the second or third step mentioned above is interrupted, the energy of the emotion becomes trapped in the body. As a result, muscle tension, pain, or other discomfort may occur. The higher the emotional intensity, the more likely it is to be caught. “The phrase ‘trapped emotions’ usually means that the real self wants to express something that the false self doesn’t want us to express,” says Olson. “In psychology, we think of the true self as that part of us we are born with that is naturally open, curious, and trusting, while the false self emerges as a set of adaptive strategies for dealing with pain and loss. This repressed negative emotional energy can express itself as: resentment

bad decision making

self sabotage

overreaction

increased stress and anxiety

depression

Fatigue Mind-body therapist Kelly Vincent, PsyD, likens trapped emotions to carrying around a big backpack. It burdens us, affects our mood and saps our energy. In addition, she notes that it can also destroy body tissues and prevent normal functioning of organs and glands. “It’s like a giant roadblock on the freeway,” says Vincent. “It’s difficult for energy to flow through naturally.”

Trapped Emotions and Trauma It’s impossible to have a conversation about trapped emotions without exploring trauma, specifically how the brain experiences it. Almost everyone experiences trauma at some point in their life. According to a 2015 survey of nearly 69,000 adults across six continents, over 70 percent of respondents said they had been exposed to a traumatic event, while 30.5 percent had been exposed to four or more. Trauma can result from life experiences such as: a breakup

a big life change

the death of a loved one

infidelity in a relationship

loss of a job

an experience of violence, discrimination or racism trauma can impair cognitive processes. It particularly affects memory processing and the ability to recall factual information or explicit memory. As a result, the traumatic experience or memory is not properly “logged” in the brain. “When dealing with an extremely overwhelming experience like trauma, the brain encodes the traumatic memories as images or bodily sensations,” says Vincent. When triggered, the brain can detach itself from reality or repeat the traumatic event in the form of a flashback. This is called dissociation or psychological separation. These sensory fragments stick in memory and disrupt the brain’s natural recovery process. Vincent likens traumatic memories to a virus in our coding system, where unprocessed events can cause our mental and physical processes to malfunction. If trauma is not processed or resolved on its own, it can last well beyond the actual event. This is commonly seen in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that develops after a person experiences horrific or life-threatening events. Research shows that people with current PTSD have a smaller hippocampus, a center for emotion and memory in the brain. Stress leads to the release of the hormone cortisol, which is part of the fight-flight-freeze response. Research from 2011 showed that prolonged stress damages the hippocampus, which can show up as abnormal blood flow or decreased size. As a result, your body can remain in this hyper-alert state even when you are not consciously thinking about the traumatic event.

Where are trapped emotions stored in the body? Have you ever felt tightness in your chest during an anxiety-provoking situation? Or do you find that it feels good to stretch your hips after an emotionally draining day? Where one person feels tension or tenderness in their body, it may not be the same for another. However, some studies provide a baseline for where emotions are generally experienced. But more research is needed on this topic to draw any conclusive conclusions. One such 2013 study, led by a team of biomedical engineers in Finland, attempted to explain where emotions are felt in the body. They mapped the physical responses to emotions in about 700 people by asking them to color regions where they felt an increase or decrease in response to different stimuli. They found that different emotions were associated with different bodily sensations, which were generally the same among participants across the board. For example, anger, fear, and nervousness showed increased activity in the chest and upper body. This could explain the origin of expressions like “hot-headed” or “bearing the weight of the world on your shoulders”. These emotions can also kickstart the sympathetic nervous system to produce a rapid response in the body. Because of this, you may feel your heart pounding or your muscles tighten when you get nervous or stressed. A table in the study indicates where in the body these feelings were experienced. See a synopsis below: Share on Pinterest Illustration by Maya Chastain Additionally, the same researchers conducted a follow-up study that found that the intensity of an emotion was directly correlated to the intensity of physical and mental sensations. They categorized feelings into five groups: negative, such as stress, anger, and shame

positive, like happiness, love and pride

Cognition, like attention and perception

Homeostatic states or a balanced, regulated internal state

Diseases and Somatic Conditions Feelings are ever-changing, and this research may be helpful for those who have trouble understanding their emotions.

Unprocessed Emotions Unprocessed emotions can be stored in your subconscious and even affect your posture. “Your head is in a different position when you’re confident and when you’re confused,” says Olson. “Your spine takes on a different shape when you’re defeated or victorious.” Olson says that people can unconsciously engage in certain postures that block their awareness of painful feelings. “Muscle tension arises to create and maintain postures that hold oneself secure or unaware of uncomfortable feelings,” he says. Certain postures and gestures also relate to certain feelings and social meanings. Think of a warm hug versus crossed arms. This can help us understand why some believe that tension in the body is linked to specific areas. However, Olson advises against using this to create general narratives. “This puts a very small limit to how far you can explore when leaning on a [list] rather than what you can find within yourself,” he says.

Conclusion If an emotion is not fully processed, it can “get stuck” in the body. However, it is the limbic structures of the brain where emotional processing takes place. While some areas of your body can no doubt contain tension or be associated with an emotional experience, it is ultimately the brain that reconstructs the emotion. By using techniques to process your emotions, such as therapy, intentional movement, and shadow work, you can learn to release from past trauma and release the physical tension that comes with it.

This is how you relax tense jaw muscles

Tight jaw muscles are a pain. Literally.

If you don’t have tight jaw muscles, you may not realize how difficult the problem is, but once they start to hurt, you realize how much you’re using your jaw. Everything from chewing to speaking to yawning and even clenching your teeth all engages your jaw muscles. And when those jaw muscles are tight, all of those things can be painful, and it seems like there’s no answer in sight. You can take Tylenol and Ibuprofen, but these have limited help and you don’t want to live on them all the time. You may be wondering “why is my jaw so tight” and “what can be done to loosen my tight jaw muscles?”

What Causes Tight Jaw Muscles?

Temporomandibular joint

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, and TMJD is the disorder that sometimes annoys it. The temporomandibular joint is located between the lower jaw and the temporal bone, in front of and below the ear. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an estimated 10 million people in the United States have at least one TMJ disorder.

There can be many reasons for a TMJ disorder and the tight jaw muscles it causes, including an injury, teeth grinding, or inflammation from an infection. TMJ pain can manifest itself as tenderness in the jaw, ear, face, or neck. These tight jaw muscles can cause difficulty opening the jaw or chewing, and a loud popping sound can be heard. TMJ can also cause headaches.

Emphasize

When we are stressed or anxious, our muscles tense up. Sometimes that tension is in our shoulders and back, sometimes in our neck, and sometimes in our jaws. Stress can tighten these jaw muscles or cause us to unconsciously clench or grind our teeth. This constant tension can cause pain in the jaw and even give us a headache.

arthritis

Various types of arthritis can cause pain in the jaw, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Although osteoarthritis primarily causes pain in the hands, knees, and hips, it can also injure the jaw and tighten the jaw muscles. And people with rheumatoid arthritis are much more likely than average to experience TMJ symptoms.

teeth grinding

Although teeth grinding can be a sign of stress or anxiety, it can also be due to a variety of other things, including side effects of some medications and nervous system disorders. In some cases, teeth grinding can damage and even break teeth.

This is how you relax tense jaw muscles

Jaw Opening Exercises

There are many mouth opening exercises you can do to loosen up tight jaw muscles. To start, open and close your mouth several times to warm up. Then, with one hand, gently grasp your bottom teeth and slowly pull your jaw down until you start to feel pain. At this point, stop pulling and hold for 30 seconds, then allow your mouth to close again.

As with any exercise, you should start easy, just 3 or 4 reps, and then work your way up to 10 or 12 reps over time.

Stretching of the temporomandibular joint

This stretch uses your tongue to extend your jaw forward. Push your tongue against the roof of your mouth behind your teeth. Then use your tongue to push your upper teeth forward while slowly opening your mouth and stretching those tight jaw muscles. Stop doing this if you feel pain. You can repeat this ten times.

stretch smile

Put on a happy face and smile as wide as you can to stretch your tight jaw muscles, then open your mouth until you feel pain. Hold in place for ten seconds, then stop. Repeat ten times.

chin lines

Stand with your back against a wall, and then tuck your chin toward the wall (causing an overbite and double chin). Hold for three to five seconds. Repeat ten times.

mouthguard

A mouth guard may be prescribed for teeth grinding or jaw joint problems. The face mask is usually worn at night. There are several brands that you can purchase, or you can have a custom one made if your dentist deems it necessary.

There are also mouth guards made specifically for jaw joints, called splints, that gently hold the lower jaw in a forward position. Your doctor may recommend that you wear this type of splint 24 hours a day. It will ease the strain on your tight jaw muscles.

diet change

Your doctor may recommend you eat a diet of soft foods while your jaw muscles are tight and tight. This is temporary and is done long enough to give your jaw and joints time to rest and heal. Nutritious foods during this time include applesauce, smoothies, mashed potatoes, yogurt, etc.

Trigger Point Massage

Massaging the masseter muscle can help loosen tight jaw muscles and relieve pain. This type of massage is usually performed by an experienced chiropractor, physical therapist, massage therapist, or osteopathic doctor.

Do you suffer from tight jaw muscles or jaw joint pain?

Pain from a heart attack can sometimes radiate to the jaw and teeth. Chest pain is a major symptom of a heart attack, but other symptoms such as weakness, shortness of breath, nausea, or vomiting may also occur.

The information provided herein should not be used during a medical emergency or to diagnose or treat any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for the diagnosis and treatment of all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other websites are provided for informational purposes only – they do not constitute an endorsement of those other websites. Copyright 1997-2022, A.D.A.M., Inc. Reproduction for commercial use must be authorized in writing by ADAM Health Solutions.

A dull, vague ache in the lower left side of your jaw should never be ignored. This pain will increase and decrease over the course of a few minutes. Also, it moves, so you can’t pinpoint exactly where it’s bothering you. Known as referred pain, this sensation occurs when the nerves surrounding the heart become excited and send pain through the nerves in the spine to other parts of the body, particularly the left jaw, shoulder, and arm.

Below, the When to Worry Scale can help you understand the difference between benign jaw pain, such as TMJ, a sinus infection, or toothache, and severe jaw pain associated with a heart attack.

Green Zone: Lowest risk

If moving your jaw (like chewing) makes the pain worse, the discomfort likely has nothing to do with your heart.

Yellow area: Medium risk

Jaw pain that occurs in the morning can be an example of referred pain and serves as a warning sign that you are at risk for a heart attack. Your blood is thicker at this time of day, leading to a rise in blood pressure and an increased risk of heart attack.

Red Zone: The highest risk

Pain caused by physical activity can manifest in multiple areas, including the chest, jaw, left arm, and shoulder, a scenario typically indicative of a heart attack. Shortness of breath, a common heart attack symptom in women, can also occur. You can also get additional classic heart attack signs such as dizziness or nausea. In this case, consult a doctor immediately.

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Overview Jaw pain can be a debilitating condition that affects your ability to eat and speak. Many things can cause jaw pain, from your sinuses and ears to your teeth or the jaw itself. This means it can be difficult to tell if your jaw pain is due to a jaw problem or something else.

What Causes Jaw Pain? Most jaw pain is due to an abnormality or injury to the jaw joint, but there are other possible causes. Here are some of the causes of jaw pain: 1. TMJ and Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD) TMDs are the most common cause of jaw pain, affecting nearly 10 million Americans. TMD is also sometimes referred to as TMJ. The temporomandibular joints are the hinge joints on each side of your jaw. Several things can cause TMD jaw pain. It’s also possible to experience TMD from multiple causes at the same time. Causes of TMD include: Pain in the muscles that control jaw movement

Injury to the temporomandibular joint

excessive stimulation of the temporomandibular joint

a displaced disc that usually helps cushion movements of the jaw

Arthritis of the protective disc that cushions the jaw joint Damage to the jaw joint, or the muscles that control your jaw movement, can be caused by several factors including: Clenching your teeth at night

Involuntary clenching of the jaw due to stress and anxiety

Injuries to the temporomandibular joint, such as B. a slap in the face while playing sports. There are also less common causes of jaw pain. These include: 2. Cluster headaches Cluster headaches typically cause pain behind or around one of the eyes, but the pain can radiate into the jaw. Cluster headaches are among the most painful types of headaches. 3. Sinus Problems The sinuses are air-filled cavities near the temporomandibular joint. When the sinuses become infected with a germ such as a virus or bacterium, the result can be an excess of mucus, which puts pressure on the temporomandibular joint and causes pain. 4. Toothache Sometimes, severe dental infections known as abscessed teeth can cause referred pain that radiates into the jaw. 5. Trigeminal Neuralgia Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition most commonly caused by nerve compression on the trigeminal nerve, which gives sensation to a large part of the face, including the upper and lower jaws. 6. Heart Attack A heart attack can cause pain in areas of the body other than the chest, such as the arms, back, neck, and jaw. Women, in particular, may experience jaw pain on the left side of their face during a heart attack. Call 911 immediately and ask to be taken to a hospital if you experience the following symptoms: Chest discomfort

shortness of breath

Sweat

nausea

to feel weak

Did you know that there are three main areas of the body that normally hold tension? We all have favorite places in our bodies where our pain, worry, and anxiety are most likely to express themselves as muscle tension. The three key areas in the body that have the potential to be most affected by emotional forces are the pelvic floor, the diaphragm, and the jaw.

Many of you have experienced tightness in your neck and jaw and tightness in your lower back. This can be driven primarily by emotions. When we look at it this way, pleasurable experiences will usually make us relax, recharge, and expand. Conversely, unpleasant experiences usually make us clench, tense, and possibly even depressed. We need to realize that this stress or muscle tension that we are holding in these three primary areas is unconscious and that instead of just addressing the symptom, we need to focus on the root cause. Is there another way for you to express your feelings? Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, journaling, and talking to a friend or a psychologist are all really powerful and often necessary. I’m going to cover some quick bio hacks that can help address those tensions and hopefully make you feel great.

Jaw

Many people tend to clench their jaws or grind their teeth, either during the day or at night. This is unconscious behavior that indicates the nervous system is in survival mode. Here are two simple things you can do while brushing your teeth and then also throughout your workday that are very simple to release jaw tension and hopefully retrain and reprogram yourself not to clench your jaw.

First of all, you should make sure that you have the optimal tongue position. Make sure the tongue is resting on the roof of your mouth and the back of your front teeth. You should make sure your teeth are slightly apart and your lips are gently closed. Of course, when you make a buzzing sound, your tongue is in the ideal position. Practice this several times a day to make sure you get used to it. Also, when you breathe with your diaphragm, your tongue is in its resting position.

Another aspect of jaw tension is when your jaw is compensating for other things. For example, if there is a lack of core stability and abdominal tension, you might clench your jaw to create stability. You want to be properly graded, but if you know your jaw is clenched, you can do that clearance. Your masseter muscle is just on the outside of your jaw. Then you have your lateral pterygoid, which points up towards the ear, and then the medial pterygoid, which goes like scissors to the bottom of the jaw. You can put your toothbrush in your mouth and move it up towards your ear to loosen the lateral pterygoid. You do this by holding your toothbrush in that direction on the right side of your mouth, and then moving your jaw down, left, up, and then right. Then, to dislodge the medial pterygoid, you would put your toothbrush back in your mouth, but this time towards the bottom of your jaw. Then, while holding the toothbrush to the right, move your jaw down, to the left, and then close. Now to release the masseter, hold your fingers against the outside of your left jaw and then move your jaw down, right and then close. You can do all this on both sides. You can also use this as an assessment to see how tight your jaw is.

membrane

This is usually an area where we can endure a lot of emotional tension and grief. We breathe 20 to 25,000 times a day, so how you breathe matters. It’s not just about whether you breathe to stay alive, it’s about how you breathe. With practice and conscious regulation of this muscle, we can regulate our response and emotions. However, during times of high stress, like the world is currently experiencing, the diaphragm can become very constricted, which can lead to one of your most common ailments, which is neck strain. Many will say, “I keep my tension in my neck,” but that’s because they breathe from the neck and shoulders, as opposed to the diaphragm.

You can check out my other video on how breathing is your superpower. But for now, try to take three diaphragmatic breaths every hour. This means that you breathe in through your nose, ideally breathe out through your nose if possible, and stretch your abdomen 360 degrees. This means that instead of your chest moving up and down, your belly is expanding. The longer the exhalation, the more relaxation response you will have.

You want to start with a breath that feels comfortable to you. For example, three seconds in and three seconds out. As you become more comfortable, please try lengthening your inhalation, exhalation, and even your pauses in the subtle shift before your exhale and then before your inhale. This can calm the nervous system, but it also gives you the opportunity to tune into what is happening in your body, to be mindful, to understand what your emotions and thoughts are, and what your physical sensations are.

pelvic floor

This is often considered taboo, but it is one of the main areas for both men and women where we unconsciously store emotions. This is also based on Eastern and Western medicine as far as the chakras are concerned, but also on science.

The pelvic floor is crucial to our emotional and energetic health. Think of dogs when they are expressing their feelings or have done something wrong and their owner is upset; The dog will tuck its tail between its legs. This is the same concept of what happens when we as humans create this tension in the pelvic region and don’t even know it’s there. Pelvic floor problems are very common in the form of hip pain, lower back pain and sometimes even knee pain. It can be something that is an underlying issue that is often overlooked but is very common. Here are two exercises you can do to relax your pelvic floor.

Rock on your forearms: place your elbows outside your shoulders, your knees outside your hips, and keep your eyes on your fingertips. Inhale as you rock back and exhale as you rock forward. Make sure your spine stays straight. Your forward looking eyes will allow for this. Breathe in as you step back to relax your pelvic floor and breathe out as you step forward, belly button going towards your spine. Happy Baby: Lie on your back, touch your toes, outside of your shin or inside of your shin. Breathe in all the way to the bottom of the pelvis to relax it and you can gently rock back and forth.

In summary, start with the tongue on the roof of the mouth and rest on the back of the teeth. When you breathe in, your pelvic floor relaxes. The deeper your diaphragmatic breathing, as the intra-abdominal pressure decreases, the longer and more relaxed your pelvic floor becomes. When you breathe out, your stomach contracts like a corset. Just your breath alone with proper tongue positioning can address all of these areas of emotion or muscle tension. Then you can incorporate that into your movement. If you’re doing the happy baby or rocking on your forearms, make sure you incorporate all of these aspects together. Especially during this challenging time, make sure to be kind to yourself and the emotions you are feeling right now.

If you need help on your journey to better health, contact [email protected] to schedule an appointment.

For more content, subscribe to my YouTube channel here.

Other things you might be interested in:

Vagus Nerve Hack | Auricular Ear Release

5 Best Vagus Nerve Hacks to Help You Relax and Restore

Vagus Nerve Hack | neck release

WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23 (HealthDay News) — Depression and anxiety symptoms are linked to temporomandibular joint pain (TMJ), a condition that affects the jaw, according to a new study.

TMJ disorders affect the muscles and joints that connect your lower jaw to the skull.

This study by German researchers included more than 4,000 patients who underwent medical and oral health exams and TMJ pain assessments and completed a questionnaire on psychiatric risk factors.

Researchers found that depressive symptoms were more closely associated with TMJ pain than muscle pain, while anxiety symptoms were associated with muscle pain. The findings were recently published in an online edition of the Journal of Pain.

TMJ pain can be a physical symptom of depression or anxiety, according to the researchers. They explained that these mental illnesses could lead to increased activity of the jaw muscles, which could cause inflammation and pain.

It’s also possible that chemical imbalances in the brains of people with depression and anxiety lead to abnormal pain processing, according to Dr. Stefan Kindler from the Clinic for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery/Plastic Surgery at the University of Greifswald and colleagues.

Previous research has suggested a link between depression and TMJ pain, the authors of the new study pointed out in a press release from the American Pain Society. Based on their findings, Kindler’s team concluded that there is a moderate to strong association between depression and anxiety symptoms and TMJ pain.

However, the link between TMJ pain and anxiety and depression does not prove that there is a cause and effect relationship.

– Robert Preidt

Copyright © 2013 Health Day. All rights reserved.

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Tension in the jaw can be caused by stress, anxiety, inflammation, or injury. Overexertion of the jaw – for example by chewing too much – can also lead to muscle tension. The temporomandibular joint, also known as the jaw joint (TMJ), is a ball and socket joint similar to that of the shoulder. The surrounding muscles control movements such as opening and closing the mouth, chewing and yawning. Depending on the cause, a person may experience jaw tightness on the left, right, or both sides of the jaw. It can come on suddenly or gradually and last for a long time. The tightness can also occur with jaw pain. A person can often relax the jaw muscles with exercises, stress reduction techniques, or by using a mouth guard. In this article, we look at the causes of a tight jaw and ways to relieve TMJ tension and pain.

Stress or Anxiety Share on Pinterest Stress or anxiety can cause the jaw muscles to tighten. Stress and anxiety are common causes of muscle tension. A person may clench their jaw or grind their teeth without realizing it when they are stressed, and over time this can cause muscles to tighten. Stress or anxiety can also cause a person to clench their fists or create tension in the shoulder and neck muscles. If anxiety or stress is interfering with everyday life, talk to a doctor about the best treatments. It can be helpful to practice natural ways to reduce stress or look for ways to treat anxiety.

TMJ disorders TMJ disorders affect the joint that connects the skull and mandible and the surrounding muscles. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an estimated 10 million people in the United States have at least one TMJ disorder. Temporomandibular joint disorders can occur due to: physical injury

grinding or clenching your teeth

Inflammation from infection or autoimmune disorders Symptoms of TMJ disorders vary depending on the cause and severity of the disorder and may include: Pain or tenderness in the jaw, ear, face, or neck

Difficulty chewing or opening your jaw

a popping or clicking sound when moving the jaw

Headache Read more about jaw exercises for jaw joints here.

Tetanus Tetanus is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. C. tetani produces toxins that cause painful muscle contractions in the neck and jaw. Depending on the severity of the infection, a person’s ability to open their mouth and swallow may be reduced. Fortunately, vaccinations can prevent tetanus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes the following vaccination recommendations based on age: the DTaP vaccine for children and infants between the ages of 2 months and 6 years

the Tdap booster vaccine for adolescents aged 11-12 years

the Td vaccination every 10 years for adults

Teeth Grinding Share on Pinterest A mouthguard can help prevent teeth grinding, a common cause of jaw strain. Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth. It can occur while you are awake or asleep. Chronic stress or anxiety can cause a person to accidentally grind their teeth or clench their jaw. Certain medications and nervous system disorders can also cause bruxism. Symptoms of bruxism can include: Stiffness or tenderness in the jaw and surrounding muscles

painful, tender, teeth

a popping or clicking of the jaw joint

Headaches on the sides of the head In some cases, bruxism can lead to tooth fractures.

Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. About 50% of people with RA also experience TMJ symptoms. RA can cause the following symptoms: Jaw tightness

Joint pain, inflammation and stiffness

a slight fever

unintentional weight loss

Bumps under the skin of joints, such as knuckles and elbows

Osteoarthritis According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic disease that primarily affects the joints. OA usually develops in people over the age of 65. Although OA typically occurs in the hands, knees, and hips, it can also affect the jaw.

How to Relieve a Tight Jaw A person can relieve tightness and pain in the jaw using the following methods: TMJ Stretches TMJ stretches can help increase the range of motion of the jaw and reduce TMJ symptoms. Try the following jaw stretches: Relaxed Jaw Stretch Rest the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth.

Lower the lower jaw so that the lower teeth separate from the upper teeth.

Remember to keep the jaw muscle relaxed. Goldfish Exercise Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

Place one index finger on the temporomandibular joint and the other on the chin.

Lower the lower jaw as far as possible.

Close your mouth and repeat the process. Resistance Mouth Opening Hold the tip of the chin in the right hand with the thumb resting under the chin and the index finger wrapped around the front.

Gently press your right hand against your jaw.

Slowly begin to open your jaw while continuing to press against your chin.

Hold the position for a few seconds and then slowly close your mouth. Dietary Changes A person with a tight jaw may find it easier to eat soft foods. These put less pressure on the jaw and give it time to heal. Some soft foods to consider are: Applesauce

tofu

yogurt

Smoothies and juices Mouth guard A mouth guard can relieve the jaw and prevent people from grinding or clenching their teeth. Certain mouthguards can also help reposition a misaligned jaw joint. Shortwave Diathermy Shortwave diathermy uses high-frequency electromagnetic energy waves to treat pain and inflammation in the body. Other Treatments Additional treatments for tight jaws include: hot and cold compresses.

corticosteroid injections

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen

prescription muscle relaxants or pain relievers

antidepressants

Acupuncture Find out more about heat and cold treatment here.

Diagnosis Share on Pinterest An X-ray can help diagnose inflammation and structural abnormalities in the jaw. Several health problems can cause jaw tightness. A doctor or dentist will review a person’s medical history and ask about ongoing symptoms. Imaging tests can help diagnose inflammation and structural abnormalities that can cause jaw tightness. Some of these tests include: X-rays

CT scans

MRI scans

When to see a doctor A person who has any of the following symptoms should see a doctor: Severe pain in the jaw that gets worse with movement or chewing

Difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing

Headaches that interfere with daily activities

There are many anxiety symptoms that are not well known in people who have only recently started to experience anxiety. Most people are familiar with nausea and anxiety palpitations, but what many don’t realize is that there are myriad other anxiety symptoms that can affect different parts of the body.

This can pose a problem, as unusual or unexpected anxiety symptoms can lead to further anxiety and anticipation, and in many cases lead to visits to the doctor that would otherwise be unnecessary. One such symptom associated with anxiety causes jaw pain.

Of course, jaw problems can also be caused by a variety of head/neck or dental problems. That’s why it’s always important to talk to a dentist, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve seen a dentist. Jaw pain rarely occurs as the sole symptom of anxiety.

What Causes Jaw Discomfort?

Much of the physical anxiety pain is caused by muscle tension caused by stress in general. This is especially true for jaw pain. The link between anxiety and jaw pain isn’t always obvious, but generally there are two causes:

Facial tension All forms of facial tension can lead to jaw pain.

All forms of facial tension can lead to jaw pain. Clenching Jaw clenching is perhaps even more common. Many anxious patients clench their teeth at night, sometimes with grinding, and when you wake up your teeth and gums have received so much pressure that they cause you significant pain.

Stress can also have unusual effects on your body, including your jaw and teeth, so you may find that your pain is due to something other than the two causes above. In addition, anxiety can make normal jaw pain feel worse.

How to stop your fear of jaw pain

There are some quick fixes to control jaw pain that occurs due to anxiety. It’s best to start with a mouthguard to prevent clenching while you sleep. There are several mouthguards available for those who grind their teeth at night and this can provide some relief if the anxiety persists.

Greater mindfulness can also provide relief. Watch your fear. If you feel stressed, see how your mouth feels. If you find yourself clenching, stop. Finally, you can train your brain to stop automatically clenching your jaws during times of intense anxiety.

The key, however, will be to stop your anxiety completely, because only then will you automatically begin to release tension in the mouth and face area. You can try traditional options, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Medicine.

Herbal Strategies.

However, there are other options that have very high success rates and can be done in the comfort of your own home.

Sudden pain in one side of your jaw can be alarming but isn’t usually severe. You might be worried about dental problems like tooth decay or abscessed teeth, or wondering if you’ve been grinding your teeth at night. There are several possible causes of unilateral jaw pain. Here we address some of the main causes, note other symptoms to look for, and let you know when it’s time to see your doctor or dentist.

Should I be concerned? In general, unilateral jaw pain is not a cause for immediate concern. But in rare cases, it can be an early sign of a heart attack. Anyone can experience this symptom, but it’s more common in women. If you’re having a heart attack, you’ll likely have a few other signs in addition to jaw pain, including: Pressure or pain in your chest that goes away when you rest but keeps coming back

Tightness, pain and pressure in the chest and arms that can spread to the jaw, neck, back and abdomen

heartburn or indigestion

shortness of breath

nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain

extreme tiredness

dizziness and lightheadedness

sudden cold sweat These symptoms can come on suddenly or come on slowly over several hours or days. If your jaw pain is accompanied by any of these symptoms, seek emergency treatment or have someone drive you to a hospital.

Common Causes Here’s a look at the most likely causes of jaw pain. 1. Temporomandibular Joint Disorders Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ) affect the joint that connects the skull and jaw. A disc separates the bones in this joint, helping it move properly. If the disc is misaligned or the joint is damaged, you may experience pain and other symptoms on one or both sides of your jaw. Other symptoms of TMJ disorders include: Sensitivity around your jaw

earache

Pain, clicking, or popping when you chew or open your mouth

Difficulty opening and closing your mouth when the joint locks up Several factors can contribute to TMJ disorders, so pinpointing a specific cause is not always easy. Problems known to play a role in TMJ disorders include: Arthritis

Clenching or grinding of teeth

tissue damage

Tooth damage or misalignments

Jaw infection or injury

Damage to the cartilage in the joint If you have symptoms of temporomandibular joint disease, talk to your doctor or dentist to find out the underlying cause. 2. Sinusitis Inflammation in your nasal cavities can cause sinusitis. This usually happens after a cold, but allergies and other medical conditions can also contribute to sinusitis. When the sinuses behind your cheeks, called the maxillary sinuses, become inflamed, you may experience pain in one or both sides of your jaw. Other symptoms of sinusitis include: a stuffy nose that makes it difficult to breathe through your nose

yellow or green mucus that comes out of your nose or down your throat

Facial pain, pressure and swelling

Pressure and pain in ears and head

fatigue

Difficulty smelling or tasting Sinusitis often goes away on its own, but it may be worth seeing your doctor if it lasts longer than a week. 3. Dental problems Pain on one side of your jaw can often be attributed to dental or oral health problems. Common dental problems that cause jaw pain are: Tooth decay

a swollen tooth

growth of wisdom teeth

Gum disease or tooth decay

missing or misaligned teeth

Teeth grinding or clenching If dental problems are to blame, you’ll likely have additional symptoms, such as: B: Toothache that lingers or comes and goes

sensitive teeth

painful, bleeding gums

sores in the mouth

bad breath or persistent dry mouth

Pain when chewing or swallowing, facial swelling and fever along with severe toothache may indicate an abscess. Contact your dentist or doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms, especially if breathing and swallowing become difficult.

Rare Causes These problems are not very common, but they can cause pain on one side of your jaw. If there is no clear reason for your pain, your doctor may want to rule out these causes. 4. Trigeminal Neuralgia This chronic condition generally results from abnormal pressure on the trigeminal nerve. This pressure can prevent the nerve from working properly, which can lead to severe pain. An injury or an abnormality in the brain can also cause the condition. Trigeminal neuralgia is most common in women and people over 50. The main symptom is severe pain, usually on one side of your face. This pain can: occur when you touch your face or move facial muscles, even minimally

Shooting, stabbing, or shock-like sensations

feel like a constant pain or burning sensation

cause facial twitching

occur in episodes lasting seconds or minutes

occur in the lower jaw, cheek or mouth

getting worse over time Pain is often brief but unbearable. It may not respond to over-the-counter medications, but your doctor may recommend other treatments, including prescription medications. 5. Osteomyelitis Osteomyelitis is a rare but serious type of bone infection that occurs when bacteria invade the bone. Your jawbone could become infected after dental surgery, if you have a serious dental health problem, or if your mouth is injured in any way. Conditions that affect your immune health can also increase your risk. This infection can spread and cause bone death. Prompt treatment with antibiotics can help prevent serious complications, so it’s important to seek medical attention if you have: worsening pain in your jaw

a fever

Swelling or tenderness in your teeth or jaw

Redness or warmth at the painful area

tiredness or exhaustion

bad breath

Difficulty opening and closing the mouth due to pain and swelling

Numbness in the jaw, lips, or mouth 6. Tumors and cysts These two types of growths are different. Tumors are masses of tissue and cysts generally contain fluid. Both can cause pain in your jaw, although both are somewhat rare. Often they are not cancerous but can still affect oral health. They can grow quickly, which can cause your teeth to shift and destroy bone and tissue in your jaw and mouth. Some of the more common tumors and cysts that can affect your mouth include: Ameloblastoma

dental cysts

Odontoma Not all cysts or tumors cause symptoms, but along with persistent jaw pain, symptoms may include: Red or white patches in the mouth

open or bleeding wounds

a lump or growth that you can feel

persistent pain or a hoarse feeling in your throat

Difficulty swallowing or moving your jaw

Tissue growth around the teeth

Swelling of the jaw or face Treatment depends on the type of growth and its cause, but early detection and medical attention can improve the chances of successful treatment.

Tips for Relief If you have mild or temporary pain in your jaw, you may not need medical attention. Unless the cause is severe, the pain usually improves once the problem is resolved. In the meantime, these approaches can help you deal with it: Use heat. Heat helps relax your muscles and relieve pain and stiffness.

Heat helps relax your muscles and relieve pain and stiffness. Use ice or cold compresses. These can help numb pain and can be especially helpful if you also have swelling.

These can help numb pain and can be especially helpful if you also have swelling. Try over-the-counter pain relievers. Acetabular (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and other over-the-counter pain relievers may help relieve pain temporarily. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package. If the recommended dose isn’t effective, or you need to take pain relievers for more than a few days, it’s best to consult your doctor.

Acetabular (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), and other over-the-counter pain relievers may help relieve pain temporarily. Be sure to follow the dosage instructions on the package. If the recommended dose isn’t effective, or you need to take pain relievers for more than a few days, it’s best to consult your doctor. Rest your jaw if possible. Choosing foods that don’t require a lot of chewing can help you avoid overloading your jaw muscles.

Choosing foods that don’t require a lot of chewing can help you avoid overloading your jaw muscles. Try massages. A health care provider, physical therapist, or massage therapist can use massage therapy to relieve pain and tension in your jaw. You can also learn to use some techniques yourself. They can be especially helpful for TMJ disorders.

A health care provider, physical therapist, or massage therapist can use massage therapy to relieve pain and tension in your jaw. You can also learn to use some techniques yourself. They can be especially helpful for TMJ disorders. Try to relax. If your jaw pain is from grinding or clenching your teeth, relaxation techniques can help you avoid using it as a stress response. Relaxing muscles can also help reduce pain.

If your jaw pain is from grinding or clenching your teeth, relaxation techniques can help you avoid using it as a stress response. Relaxing muscles can also help reduce pain. Change your sleeping position. Always sleeping on the same side or with your hand under your jaw can put pressure on your muscles. Changing the side you sleep on could ease your pain. On the other hand, if your pain has another cause, sleeping on the other side can help reduce nighttime pain.

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Tension in the jaw can be caused by stress, anxiety, inflammation, or injury. Overexertion of the jaw – for example by chewing too much – can also lead to muscle tension. The temporomandibular joint, also known as the jaw joint (TMJ), is a ball and socket joint similar to that of the shoulder. The surrounding muscles control movements such as opening and closing the mouth, chewing and yawning. Depending on the cause, a person may experience jaw tightness on the left, right, or both sides of the jaw. It can come on suddenly or gradually and last for a long time. The tightness can also occur with jaw pain. A person can often relax the jaw muscles with exercises, stress reduction techniques, or by using a mouth guard. In this article, we look at the causes of a tight jaw and ways to relieve TMJ tension and pain.

Stress or Anxiety Share on Pinterest Stress or anxiety can cause the jaw muscles to tighten. Stress and anxiety are common causes of muscle tension. A person may clench their jaw or grind their teeth without realizing it when they are stressed, and over time this can cause muscles to tighten. Stress or anxiety can also cause a person to clench their fists or create tension in the shoulder and neck muscles. If anxiety or stress is interfering with everyday life, talk to a doctor about the best treatments. It can be helpful to practice natural ways to reduce stress or look for ways to treat anxiety.

TMJ disorders TMJ disorders affect the joint that connects the skull and mandible and the surrounding muscles. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, an estimated 10 million people in the United States have at least one TMJ disorder. Temporomandibular joint disorders can occur due to: physical injury

grinding or clenching your teeth

Inflammation from infection or autoimmune disorders Symptoms of TMJ disorders vary depending on the cause and severity of the disorder and may include: Pain or tenderness in the jaw, ear, face, or neck

Difficulty chewing or opening your jaw

a popping or clicking sound when moving the jaw

Headache Read more about jaw exercises for jaw joints here.

Tetanus Tetanus is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani. C. tetani produces toxins that cause painful muscle contractions in the neck and jaw. Depending on the severity of the infection, a person’s ability to open their mouth and swallow may be reduced. Fortunately, vaccinations can prevent tetanus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes the following vaccination recommendations based on age: the DTaP vaccine for children and infants between the ages of 2 months and 6 years

the Tdap booster vaccine for adolescents aged 11-12 years

the Td vaccination every 10 years for adults

Teeth Grinding Share on Pinterest A mouthguard can help prevent teeth grinding, a common cause of jaw strain. Bruxism is the medical term for unconscious clenching or grinding of the teeth. It can occur while you are awake or asleep. Chronic stress or anxiety can cause a person to accidentally grind their teeth or clench their jaw. Certain medications and nervous system disorders can also cause bruxism. Symptoms of bruxism can include: Stiffness or tenderness in the jaw and surrounding muscles

painful, tender, teeth

a popping or clicking of the jaw joint

Headaches on the sides of the head In some cases, bruxism can lead to tooth fractures.

Rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the joints. About 50% of people with RA also experience TMJ symptoms. RA can cause the following symptoms: Jaw tightness

Joint pain, inflammation and stiffness

a slight fever

unintentional weight loss

Bumps under the skin of joints, such as knuckles and elbows

Osteoarthritis According to the Arthritis Foundation, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common chronic disease that primarily affects the joints. OA usually develops in people over the age of 65. Although OA typically occurs in the hands, knees, and hips, it can also affect the jaw.

How to Relieve a Tight Jaw A person can relieve tightness and pain in the jaw using the following methods: TMJ Stretches TMJ stretches can help increase the range of motion of the jaw and reduce TMJ symptoms. Try the following jaw stretches: Relaxed Jaw Stretch Rest the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth.

Lower the lower jaw so that the lower teeth separate from the upper teeth.

Remember to keep the jaw muscle relaxed. Goldfish Exercise Press your tongue against the roof of your mouth.

Place one index finger on the temporomandibular joint and the other on the chin.

Lower the lower jaw as far as possible.

Close your mouth and repeat the process. Resistance Mouth Opening Hold the tip of the chin in the right hand with the thumb resting under the chin and the index finger wrapped around the front.

Gently press your right hand against your jaw.

Slowly begin to open your jaw while continuing to press against your chin.

Hold the position for a few seconds and then slowly close your mouth. Dietary Changes A person with a tight jaw may find it easier to eat soft foods. These put less pressure on the jaw and give it time to heal. Some soft foods to consider are: Applesauce

tofu

yogurt

Smoothies and juices Mouth guard A mouth guard can relieve the jaw and prevent people from grinding or clenching their teeth. Certain mouthguards can also help reposition a misaligned jaw joint. Shortwave Diathermy Shortwave diathermy uses high-frequency electromagnetic energy waves to treat pain and inflammation in the body. Other Treatments Additional treatments for tight jaws include: hot and cold compresses.

corticosteroid injections

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen

prescription muscle relaxants or pain relievers

antidepressants

Acupuncture Find out more about heat and cold treatment here.

Diagnosis Share on Pinterest An X-ray can help diagnose inflammation and structural abnormalities in the jaw. Several health problems can cause jaw tightness. A doctor or dentist will review a person’s medical history and ask about ongoing symptoms. Imaging tests can help diagnose inflammation and structural abnormalities that can cause jaw tightness. Some of these tests include: X-rays

CT scans

MRI scans

When to see a doctor A person who has any of the following symptoms should see a doctor: Severe pain in the jaw that gets worse with movement or chewing

Difficulty opening your mouth or swallowing

Headaches that interfere with daily activities

Humans are emotional creatures whose state of mind can usually be seen in their facial expressions.

A common belief first introduced by Dr. Paul Ekman states that there are six basic emotions that are universally recognized and easily interpreted through specific facial expressions, regardless of language or culture. These are: happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust.

New research published by scientists from the University of Glasgow in the journal Current Biology has challenged this view and suggested that there are only four basic emotions.

Their conclusion was reached by examining the area of ​​different muscles in the face – or action units, as the researchers call them – involved in signaling different emotions, as well as the time frame in which each muscle was activated.

This is the first such study to objectively examine the ‘temporal dynamics’ of facial expressions, made possible by using a unique Generative Face Grammar platform developed at the University of Glasgow.

The team from the Department of Neuroscience and Psychology contend that while the facial expression signals of happiness and sadness are clearly separated over time, fear and surprise share a common signal – the wide-open eyes – early in the signal dynamics.

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Anger and disgust also share the wrinkled nose. It is these early signals that could represent more fundamental danger signals. Later in signaling dynamics, facial expressions carry signals that distinguish all six “classic” facial expressions from emotions.

The lead researcher Dr. Rachael Jack said: “Our results are consistent with evolutionary predictions, in which signals are designed by both biological and social evolutionary pressures to optimize their function.

“First, early danger signals give others the best advantage by providing the quickest escape. Second, physiological benefits for the Expresser—the wrinkled nose prevents inhalation of potentially harmful particles, while wide eyes increase the intake of visual information useful for escape—are amplified when the facial movements are made early.

“What our research shows is that not all facial muscles appear simultaneously during facial expression, but rather evolve over time, supporting a hierarchical, biologically basic to socially specific information over time.”

In compiling their research, the team used special techniques and software developed at the University of Glasgow to synthesize all of the facial expressions.

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The Generative Face Grammar – developed by Professor Philippe Schyns, Dr. Oliver Garrod and Dr. Hui Yu – uses cameras to capture a three-dimensional image of faces of individuals specially trained to independently activate all 42 individual facial muscles.

From this, a computer can then generate specific or random facial expressions on a 3D model based on the activation of different action units or groups of units to mimic all facial expressions.

By asking volunteers to observe the realistic model as it triggers different facial expressions – providing a true four-dimensional experience – and to indicate which emotion was expressed, the researchers can see which specific Action Units observers associate with particular emotions .

Through this method, they found that the signals for fear/surprise and anger/disgust were confused early in the transmission and only became clearer later when other units of action were activated.

dr Jack said, “Our research challenges the notion that human emotion communication encompasses six basic, psychologically irreducible categories. Instead, we propose that there are four basic expressions of emotion.

“We show that ‘basic’ facial expression cues are perceptually segmented over time and follow an evolving signaling hierarchy over time – from the biologically rooted basic cues to more complex socially specific cues.

“Over time and as humans migrated across the globe, socioecological diversity likely further specialized once-common facial expressions and altered the number, variety, and shape of cues across cultures.”

The researchers plan to advance their study by looking at facial expressions from different cultures, including East Asian populations, who they have already found interpret some of the six classic emotions differently – placing more emphasis on eye signals than mouth movements compared to Westerners .

Current treatment for the most common mental health problems could be ineffective or even harmful for about 50 percent of the population, according to a radically new model of emotion in the brain.

Since the 1970s, hundreds of studies have shown that each hemisphere houses a specific type of emotion. The neural system for emotions associated with approaching and coming to terms with the world—like happiness, pride, and anger—lives on the left side of the brain, while emotions associated with avoidance—like disgust and fear—live are housed on the right side.

But these studies were almost exclusively conducted on right-handed people. This simple fact has given us a distorted understanding of how emotions work in the brain, according to Daniel Casasanto, associate professor of human development and psychology.

This long-standing model is actually reversed in left-handed people, whose emotions like alertness and determination are housed in the right side of their brain, Casasanto suggests in a new study. Even more radically, the position of a person’s neural systems for emotions depends on whether they’re left-handed, right-handed, or somewhere in between, research shows.

“The old model suggests that each hemisphere specializes in one type of emotion, but that’s not true,” Casasanto said. “Approach emotions are smeared across both hemispheres depending on the direction and degree of your handedness… . The big theoretical shift is that we say that emotions are not a separate system in the brain. Emotions in the cerebral cortex build on neuronal systems for motor action.”

The study “Approach motivation in human cerebral cortex” was published June 18 in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The paper’s first author, Geoffrey Brookshire, was a graduate student in Casasanto’s lab at the University of Chicago and a visiting graduate student in Casasanto’s lab at Cornell.

The idea for the researchers’ theory, dubbed the “sword and shield” hypothesis, came from Casasanto’s observation that we use our dominant hands for approach-oriented actions while non-dominant hands are used for avoidance movements.

“You would wield the sword in your dominant hand to perform approach actions like stabbing your enemy and use the shield in your non-dominant hand to deflect attacks,” he said. “Your dominant hand gets what you want, and your non-dominant hand pushes away what you don’t want.”

Researchers theorized that approach and avoidance emotions are built on neural systems for approach and avoidance actions.

“If this sword-and-shield hypothesis is correct,” he said, “then three things should follow: Approach motivation should be mediated through the left hemisphere in strong right-handers, as has been the case in countless previous studies. On sharp left turns, however, it should reverse completely. For anyone in the middle of the handedness spectrum, how you approach emotions should depend on both hemispheres.”

Casasanto and Brookshire tested this idea by stimulating the two hemispheres of 25 healthy participants with a painless electrical current. The goal was to see if they could cause participants to experience proximity-related emotions—including enthusiasm, interest, strength, excitement, determination, and alertness—depending on which brain hemisphere was being stimulated and whether they were right-handed or left-handed, or somewhere in between . The study participants were zapped for 20 minutes a day for five days and reported how strongly they felt emotions such as pride and happiness before and after the five days.

The experiment worked — confirming the researchers’ first test of the sword-and-shield hypothesis using brain imaging. Strong right-handers who were zapped in the left hemisphere experienced a surge of positive emotions. Equally strong lefts zapped into the right hemisphere. But when left-handers are zapped into the left hemisphere — or right-handers into the right — “you either don’t see a change or you see a downside in the experience of those emotions,” Casasanto said.

The work has implications for a current treatment for intractable anxiety and depression called neural therapy. Similar to the technique used in the study and approved by the Food and Drug Administration, it involves mild electrical stimulation or left-brain magnetic stimulation to encourage proximity-related emotions.

However, Casasanto’s work suggests that the treatment could be harmful for left-handers. Stimulation on the left would decrease life-affirming approach emotions. “If you give left-handers the standard treatment, you’re probably going to make them worse,” Casasanto said.

“And because many people are neither strongly right-handed nor left-handed, the stimulation won’t make a difference to them because their approach emotions are spread across both hemispheres,” he said.

“This suggests that strong right-wingers should get normal treatment, but they only make up 50 per cent of the population. Strong leftists should get the opposite treatment, and people in the center shouldn’t get the treatment at all.”

However, Casasanto warns that this research only looked at healthy participants and more work is needed to extend these findings to a clinical setting.

The research was funded by a James S. McDonnell Foundation Scholar Award and the National Science Foundation.

Happy, sad, and angry don’t even begin to cover the range of emotions we express on our faces, a study has found.

Using new computer software, scientists mapped no fewer than 21 emotional states, including seemingly contradictory examples such as “happy disgusted” and “sad angry.”

Research triples the number of known emotional facial expressions.

dr Aleix Martinez of Ohio State University in the US said: “We went beyond facial expressions for simple emotions like ‘happy’ or ‘sad’. We found strong agreement in how people move their facial muscles to express 21 categories of emotions.

“This is just stunning. This tells us that these 21 emotions are expressed in almost the same way by almost everyone, at least in our culture.”

According to the researchers, the computer model could in future help in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses such as autism and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Since Aristotle, scholars have tried to understand how and why our faces reveal our emotions.

Today, cognitive scientists are attempting to link facial expressions to emotions in order to trace the genetic and chemical pathways that control emotions in the brain.

So far they’ve focused on six basic emotions – happy, sad, fearful, angry, surprised and disgusted.

But confining emotions to just six categories is like painting with only primary colors, said Dr. Martinez. The new study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, has tripled the range of colors available to researchers.

“In cognitive science, we have this basic assumption that the brain is a computer,” added Dr. Martinez added. “So we want to find the algorithm implemented in our brain that allows us to recognize emotion in facial expressions.

“In the past, when we tried to decode this algorithm using just these six basic emotion categories, we had tremendous difficulties. Hopefully, by adding more categories, we now have a better way to decode the algorithm and analyze the brain.”

The scientists photographed 230 mostly student volunteers – 100 men, 130 women – who grimaced in response to verbal cues aimed at triggering emotional states.

For example, the words “You just got great unexpected news” produced an expression that was “happily surprised,” while “you smell a bad odor” produced a “disgusted” face.

It then looked for similarities or differences between the 5,000 resulting images and an expression database widely used in body language analysis called the Facial Action Coding System (Facs).

This yielded 21 emotions containing subtle combinations of the “fundamental six”.

Marking prominent landmarks for facial muscles, such as the corners of the mouth or the outer edge of the eyebrow, allowed the scientists to match emotions to movements.

Putting on a “happy” face was done in almost the same way by almost everyone, with 99% of study participants arching their cheeks and smiling. “Surprise” meant opening your eyes and opening your mouth 92% of the time.

“Happily Surprised” was characterized by wide eyes, arched cheeks, and a mouth that was both open and curled in a smile.

Another hybrid emotion, “happy disgusted”, produced an expression that combined the narrowed eyes and nose of “disgusted” with the smile of “happy”.

It was the emotion felt when something “disgusting” happens that’s also incredibly funny, explained Dr. Martinez.

He described how the research could help people with PTSD, who are likely to be unusually attuned to anger and fear.

“Can we speculate that they will be attuned to all the compound emotions that involve anger or fear, and maybe super-attuned to something like ‘angry afraid’?” said Dr. Martinez. “What are the pathways, the chemicals in the brain that activate these emotions?

“We can now make more hypotheses and test them. Then we can eventually understand these disorders much better and develop therapies or drugs to alleviate them.”

Here is the full list of emotional states identified by the scientists based on facial expressions: Happy, Sad, Anxious, Angry, Surprised, Disgusted, Happy Surprised, Happy Disgusted, Sad Anxious, Sad Angry, Sad Surprised, Sad Disgusted, Terrible angry, afraid Surprised, terribly disgusted, angry surprised, angry disgusted, disgusted surprised, horrified, hateful, intimidated.