Cuts, bruises, and tissue tears are not the only known causes of symptoms and illnesses. Psychosomatic or somatoform disorders, for example, are forms of expression of alterations that are psychological in nature, whether conscious or unconscious.
That is why, in some cases, they appear disorders and illnesses caused by the mind This means that there are certain symptoms and signs of discomfort that do not appear due to elements in the environment that enter our body and harm us (blows, cuts, infections, etc.) or to diseases of purely genetic origin.
The existence of symptoms and diseases caused by the mind has been hypothesized for centuries, although the explanations given have differed. For example, for Jean-Martin Charcot, Sigmund Freud’s mentor, in these cases there was an organic alteration producing these changes, while for Freud, in some cases, it was the emotions themselves caused by the repression of ideas and beliefs that produced the disease (this is how it explained, for example, cases of hysteria or conversion disorder).
In any case, when we talk about diseases caused by the mind we do not mean that our body works well but the mind does not, because that would be falling into dualism, a non-scientific philosophy.
The mind is a product of the activity of the organism, is not something separate from this, and therefore alterations with a psychological origin are a specific type of disorder that, like all others, has an organic and not “spiritual” cause. Specifically, what causes them is in the brain, although it is not known exactly which parts of the brain are involved.
But… what are these diseases caused by psychological alterations? These are some of them.
1. Migraine
Migraine, which is a very intense and recurring type of headache, can be caused by stress and the changes it produces in the distribution of blood throughout the brain.
However, although migraine may have a psychological origin, it It does not mean that this disease can be cured by thinking in a certain way or exposing yourself more to certain kinds of emotions. Psychologically, you can only intervene to better adapt to your symptoms.
2. Gastrointestinal disorders
The intestines are one of the parts of the body most sensitive to hormonal changes. That is why sudden alterations in the amount in which some of these substances are secreted by order of the brain can cause the intestine to start working in strange ways that generate discomfort.
3. Shy bladder syndrome
Some people are unable to urinate if they feel watched. This fact may lead them to think that they have some type of problem with their bladder or kidney system, but in reality the cause of this disorder is purely psychological Specifically, it is due to a type of social phobia.
4. Pain disorder
In cases of pain disorder, the person complains of intense pain that is located in a specific area of their body. without any injuries nor present problems in the way it works.
It is believed that this disorder has psychological causes and has to do with suggestion (the propensity to firmly believe in an idea until it becomes something real) and the anxiety problems associated with it.
Heart attacks are vascular diseases closely linked to unhealthy habits related to exercise and diet in general. However, Stress levels also play a very important role in the chances of suffering from one Ultimately, if anxiety begins to be a constant part of our lives, the circulatory system suffers because it tries to keep many parts of the body in a maximum state of activation.
This state of activation, when it is very intense or becomes chronic, forces the walls of the blood vessels and the heart, causing small tears to appear or stretch and narrow. In turn, this increases the chances of suffering a vascular problem, and the consequences that this can have are very serious: even if death does not occur, there may be consequences that lead to other diseases.
6. Alopecia due to stress
In many cases, alopecia is a consequence of genetic inheritance, but in others it may be due to specific periods in which stress is very high. In these cases, part of the hair falls out evenly and quickly for a few days. Once the period in which this peak of anxiety has been suffered has passed, the hair grows back normally, although sometimes it can take several months.
The psychosomatic origin of this alteration has to do with the secretion of hormones and the blood supply that reaches the scalp. When we get stressed, stress hormones make the body begin to prioritize certain aspects and neglect others so that the body never stops being in a certain balance.
Some people have coughing spells so severe and frequent that their quality of life is affected. Normally this problem has a clear cause in some alteration of the respiratory system, but in other cases it is not possible to determine an origin that is not based, basically, on stress and suggestion. In these cases, the cough acts as a kind of recurring tic
These types of tics are typical in alterations caused by anxiety, since they are a way to release that energy that overwhelms us when thinking about what causes stress.
8. Psychogenic pruritus
People who experience this disorder caused by the mind they notice how an area of the body itches, which leads them to scratch uncontrollably. Furthermore, this itching has no biological causes attributable to the affected area, which is healthy. Suggestion has a very important role in this somatoform disorder.
9. Acne
The acne It is basically based on the cycles of hormonal production, and this is something that depends almost entirely on what happens in our brain. That is why stressful events are capable of producing or significantly worsening cases of acne, very typical in adolescence and youth.
However, it must be taken into account that mental states are not the only factor that favors the appearance of acne. Genetics, and in particular skin type, also play a relevant role in this.
