Psychosomatic Diseases: The 8 Most Frequent Types Of Somatization
In the world of common diseases, these are the ones that are relegated to the last place in our minds, psychosomatic diseases. How do I know if my pain is psychosomatic?
Currently, doctors’ offices are full, professionals have little time to see us and there is a high rate of use of medication as the first treatment option. This makes us wonder what the real cause is that leads us to go to the doctor. It has been proven that a high percentage of the reasons that lead us to go to the doctor are psychosomatic diseases These diseases are those that present with physical symptoms, but the origin or maintenance of this pain is due to psychological factors.
Initially, we go to the doctor because we feel bad, they do tests and when we have gone to various specialists and they tell us that the origin is “psychological”, or as they say “a nerve disease“, fear and denial arise, thinking that it can cause the psychosomatic pain we feel.
This leads us to go to a different doctor or to alternative medicine such as acupuncture, herbalists, etc. in search of the quick remedy, that is, that the solution is something external to me, that someone else solves psychosomatic illness, or a pill that reduces my discomfort. This inability to face the problem from oneself delays the treatment and possible solution, adding frustration and anguish to the person. The lack of knowledge of what a psychological treatment would be like and the mythologized teaching that it is something complicated, nonsense, etc. It makes you escape from the situation and from coping with it.
We must not forget the influence that emotions have on our body and vice versa. It is not necessary to have a great trauma to suffer a illness or psychosomatic symptoms since the origins can be stress, anxiety, poor emotional management of situations, inability to make decisions, as well as those of the body such as digestion, bad breathing, bad sleeping and eating habits, pollution, changes in season and climate, etc.
Most frequent types of somatization
Some somatic symptoms The ones that most frequently direct us to the doctor are: Back pain, dizziness, vertigo, palpitations, tachycardia, chest pain, nausea, etc. In turn, among the diseases that are related to psychosomatic symptoms are tinnitus, anxiety, hypertension, asthma, flu, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, muscle contractures, impotence, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, etc. . Some of the most frequent types of somatization are the following:
Fatigue and insomnia: The psychosomatic pain They usually cause constant fatigue or even insomnia problems.
Muscle pain or discomfort: When somatizing anxiety, or another psychological problem, many people may suffer from pain or discomfort in a muscle. Normally, these psychosomatic pain They are usually reflected on the back.
Hypertension: High blood pressure without a justified organic reason can also indicate psychosomatic problems
Difficulty breathing: Dyspnea or experiencing trouble breathing may be a joint condition of experiencing a psychosomatic pain
Stomach ache: Constant discomfort in the digestive system can also be caused by a psychosomatic disorder
Migraines and headaches: People who suffer from headaches or migraines very often may also be experiencing it due to a psychosomatic illness
Erectile dysfunction (impotence): Sexual impotence may also be related to a psychosomatic problem
Skin rash (dermatitis): Visible skin problems may be due to stress or certain psychological problems.
These are some of the psychosomatic diseases which are usually common examples in the majority of cases in which this pathology is suffered. If you have visited your family doctor and think you could be experiencing psychosomatic pain, it is important that you go to a professional psychologist.
How is psychosomatic pain treated?
There are some treatments and tips that can help people deal with a psychosomatic illness If you are dealing with this, we recommend that you keep the following in mind:
Keep it real: Sometimes people suffer from psychosomatic problems because they want to keep many things under control. The reality is that the best attitude is to remain aware of what we can control and stop thinking about what we cannot influence.
Have a healthy lifestyle: Exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, or eating a healthy diet can help you deal with a psychosomatic pain
Write your thoughts: Keeping a journal about your thoughts and feelings can help you increase awareness of what is affecting you and take control of the problem.
Limit alcohol and drugs: Smoking or abusing drugs or alcohol to deal with a psychological problem can end up causing us to develop a psychosomatic disorder. Therefore, it is essential to try to limit its consumption before the appearance of a psychosomatic pain
Practice meditation: Meditation or progressive muscle relaxation is an effective method to calm our mind when faced with anxiety or stress problems. In this way, it is also recommended if we start somatize diseases
Set healthy boundaries: Many people do not know how to set limits for others. This can end up affecting your mental health and even lead to a somatic disease
Seek support from your loved ones: Talking about our problems or feelings can help us see what worries us from another perspective. Therefore, it allows us to better face the adversities that may end up producing certain psychosomatic problems
Go to therapy: If you don’t know how to deal with a psychosomatic pain, perhaps there is a root problem that you need to solve. In these cases, we recommend that you go to a professional psychologist to obtain effective treatment.
They are becoming more common psychosomatic diseases The reason is that high levels of stress, anxiety and other psychological problems are becoming more frequent. For this reason, it is important to focus on improving our mental health.
