Psychosomatic Diseases: When The Mind Hurts The Body

Psychosomatic illnesses are evidence of the power that the mind can exert on the body. In a psychosomatic episode, the patient experiences a series of real, physical symptoms that are linked to an invisible disease. The condition does not exist organically, but is the result of mental conflicts or unresolved problems that the patient has on the inside.

It is hard to believe stories about students who lose the ability to see before an exam due to anxiety. Or the story of a 60-year-old woman who lost mobility in her legs because she thought she had a tumor in her spine.

But this is the reality for many.

However difficult it may be to believe, there is ample evidence that these episodes occur every day. They take place all the time and all over the world.

As a result, neurologists and specialist psychologists have quickly learned to give these patients space to talk about what is affecting them. If they say they are in pain, it’s probably true, even if it’s not visible on computed tomography or blood tests.

It is important to validate patients’ suffering. The same goes for patients with depression who say they have suicidal thoughts or a person with schizophrenia who sees with vision and has hallucinations.

These realities exist in their minds and can be devastating. When our senses – traumatized and exposed to intense anxiety – take control, anything is possible.

Psychosomatic illnesses include all sets of symptoms that do not have a physical or organic correlation. They are the pains and limitations that are entirely the result of mental processes. Now you may be wondering – is everything really just in my head?

The truth is that this field is still full of mysteries. What we do know is that this spectrum of physical ailments that are associated but mental stress has a cerebral correlation: the hyperactivity of the nerve impulses in the brain when they communicate with different parts of the body.

• Another thing that patients experience is high levels of adrenaline in the blood as well as altered biological parameters. An example of this is increased metabolism of glucose or amino acids.
• At the same time, researchers have demonstrated that some people are more susceptible to psychosomatic illnesses. Patients who live with a lot of anxiety or who have had traumatic childhoods due to abuse or neglect tend to be at higher risk for these types of problems.

There is something more important than understanding or not understanding the cause of psychosomatic illnesses. Imagine a doctor explaining to a patient that what she is feeling is not real. That the chest pain is not a heart attack, that she did not lose her voice due to a problem with the vocal cords or that the horrific migraine is not caused by a tumor.

It’s okay to tell the patient what she does not have, but how do we help her heal what she actually has if everything is going on in her mind?

Psychosomatic diseases can affect any organ, system, tissue or structure. Their influence can be intense and we must not underestimate the power of the psyche. In the same way , it is important to distinguish between somatic diseases and psychosomatic diseases.

In the former, there are never any physical symptoms. In the latter, there is visible damage to the body (wounds for example). Here are some examples of the diseases:

• The most classic of the psychosomatic diseases are skin problems such as eczema, rashes, infections, acne, etc.
• Hypertension, tachycardia, difficulty breathing and chest pain are other common symptoms.
• Diseases of the digestive system are very common. The most common are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers.
• Intense headaches and migraines are also common.

• Memory loss.
• Bronchial asthma.
• Menstrual cramps, menstrual problems.
• Alopecia.
• In extreme cases, patients have experienced temporary blindness, paralysis of limbs, fainting, etc.

There are two approaches to treating psychosomatic illnesses. On the one hand, the first and most obvious method is to treat the physical symptoms that the patient has (stomach ulcers, infections, eczema…).

The most important thing, however, is to find out what the cause of the problem is. In other words, to understand the psychological roots of the disease. This unresolved mental tension manifests itself in the body to varying degrees.

How to treat these cases varies. They always depend on the patient’s specific circumstances. It is best to try different methods to see which one works for the patient. The therapist can try to observe which techniques have the most positive results.

• Relaxation techniques are always very effective.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy is extremely helpful in teaching patients new ways to deal with their problems. They will understand how their senses work, apply realistic goals and identify the thought patterns that need to change. It will help the patient to have a more positive lifestyle.
• Another type of therapy that has similar positive results is psychoanalysis. This is effective in treating mental and emotional conflicts, as well as anxiety disorders.
• Group therapy, such as psychodrama (created by Jacob Levy Moreno), is another useful, stimulating, and satisfying strategy.

Finding a solution for patients suffering from psychosomatic illnesses is an important challenge for today’s physicians. The reality for these patients is very difficult, and they deserve our attention and tact.