According to new research, the brains of people who live with chronic pain may be harmed by the unrelenting pain. In healthy brains, when one region is active, the other regions will become less active to help the brain maintain a balance. Now, researchers have discovered that in chronic pain patients, the front region of the brain--which is associated with emotion--never quiets down. This constant activity damages brain cells, and it may lead chronic pain patients to suffer from depression, anxiety, insomnia, and problems making simple decisions.