Have you ever heard of the term “The body speaks”?
The term “psychosomatic” came from the union of two words of Greek origin, psyche = soul, and soma = body. Psychosomatic illnesses originate in the soul and in the psychological and reflect in the body. They happen when the individual has some imbalance in his emotional state triggering an accumulation of factors that cause pain and physical problems. Research points out that about 5% of the world's population suffers from some type of psychosomatic illness and that women suffer more than men from it. We can see that the mind and body form a single system and are connected even in your unconscious. After the publication of the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition) in 2013, the term Somatic Symptom Disorder (TSS) was created, so many health professionals prefer to use this term (TSS) and not “somatization” or “somatic disease”, in order not to label the patient.
Symptoms
First, the physical illness is felt, and only after investigating with a doctor can one assess whether the cause is some psychological factor. Stress and emotional pressure can change the strength of symptoms. It is necessary to observe the frequency of symptoms and seek to know what is causing them, that is, in which situations the physical symptoms tend to get worse.
Cause
Psychological factors can be one of the causes for the development of the disease. Significant and sudden changes can also influence: Professional problems: excess or lack of work. The professional side has a lot to do with the psychology of human beings. Job change or loss; Trauma and significant events: family problems, loss of loved ones and childhood traumas can make the individual more anxious and unmotivated with life; Psychological violence: abuse and love conflicts, bullying at school/work and domestic violence are also factors to be considered; Anxiety and sadness: many people do not control these feelings and seek to isolate themselves instead of treating the problem.
It is also important to pay attention to the family history of psychosomatic disorders or those related to anxiety and depression. Social factors also need to be evaluated when physical symptoms appear. For example, work pressures, financial difficulties, unemployment, history of arrests and lawsuits, among others. Therefore, there are many factors that provide context for somatic symptoms.
Symptoms
Symptoms can be: psychological Stress; Anxiety; Impatience; Concentration problems. Feeling tired or low on energy; Difficulty sleeping. Physicists: Tachycardia; Headaches, back pain arms, legs or joints; Low immunity; Loss of hair; Insomnia; Muscle tension; Stomach problems; Headaches; Shortness of breathe; Dizziness;
Examples of psychosomatic illnesses:
Psychosomatic illnesses can affect any individual and vary from person to person, and some physical illnesses arise or worsen from a psychological problem: Nervous system: such as migraine, eye pain, numbness, tingling and simulating neurological diseases Skin: irritations, itching and dermatological problems caused by the nervous system Muscle and joint: pain, tension and contractures Sore throat: inflammation of the tonsils and a feeling of a lump, as if the throat is closed Circulatory System: Chest pain, palpitations, high blood pressure, and heart attack-like symptoms Respiratory System: shortness of breath and suffocation Stomach: pain, burning, nausea, gastritis and gastric ulcers; Intestine: constipation or diarrhea (Irritable Bowel Syndrome); Urinary system: pain and difficulty urinating and urological diseases Sexual difficulties: decreased sexual desire, changes in the menstrual cycle, impotence and difficulty getting pregnant Furthermore, it is notable that while the mind acts on the body, the body also acts on the mind, so rates of psychosomatic illness are higher in patients with disorders such as fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and chronic fatigue syndrome. (Among these patients, the reported frequency of TSS, diagnosed according to DSM-5 criteria, ranges from 25 to 60 percent.).
Somatization, what is it?
It is when the individual has physical symptoms, but there is no organic disease, indicating that the cause of the symptoms may be emotional. Examples; Panic syndrome - the individual reports a great physical malaise, such as chest pain, nausea, dizziness, shortness of breath, among others. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is also a type of somatization, as in this condition the functioning of the intestine is altered due to neurotransmitters. As in the cases above, doctors do not find any physical illness, because the symptoms come from this psychological problem, after all, there are a series of brain circuits that cause the stimuli received by our mind to interfere in the body.
Challenges
The diagnosis is difficult, as the symptoms are caused by the individual's feelings, making it impossible to find a physical and/or biological explanation for the symptoms, as there is no test to identify psychosomatic illnesses. The most that can be done is to carry out a detailed analysis through clinical questionnaires. On the other hand, although the diagnosis is not easy, the lack of it greatly hinders the quality of life of those who suffer from the symptoms, causing: Decreased production capacity; Execution of activities with less precision; Absenteeism; Lack of motivation; Lack of personal care. Usually after several tests without finding the biological cause of the problem, a somatic issue may be suspected, as mental issues do not always respond well to allopathic treatments.
How to avoid psychosomatic illnesses?
There are some tips to avoid psychosomatic illnesses and pain. Practice self-knowledge: know your weaknesses and strengths. That way, you can better control your feelings; Emotional intelligence: This will give you more security when dealing with difficult situations. Don't let simple things get in the way of your day; Build your personality yourself: We often get stuck in the traumas of our past. So know that you can become someone better and therapy can help you with that; Pay attention to what might be causing your symptoms: for example, a sore throat could be a symptom of something you didn't tell someone and it got stuck; Take care of yourself first: it's common to take care of others more than ourselves. Therefore, remember that you also deserve attention and care; Forgive yourself and others. That is, carrying grudge or heartache in everyday life will only hurt you. You do not need that; Seek help from an expert: among so many tips, it's normal that we still don't find the answers to deal with alone. It is important to seek help from a mental health professional. Controlling the breath is also very helpful in preventing somatic illnesses.
The therapy is important and can transform your physical and mental health, making you healthier.
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