Psychosomatic disorder, also known as the psychophysiological disorder can trigger several problems. Stress is linked to the problem. It can wreak havoc on your mind as well as the body. When you visit a doctor, they usually advise patients to take activities to relieve stress. Stress is a negative emotion resulting in severe issues with your immune system. So, it is important to eliminate stress to a great extent, especially when you feel ill or suffer from a weak immune system. When you worry about your physical state or any disease, then it leads to several physical symptoms. It can affect your regular life and become severely distressing.
Why does it happen? It is because your mental health plays an important role in fighting off the disease. With a healthy mental state, it is possible to manage any underlying condition and get relief. But, when you have poor mental health, it triggers negative thoughts. So, it affects your physical health. You can name such conditions as psychophysiological disorders. Read ahead to know more about the different diseases triggered and how they are related to psychology.
About Psychosomatic Disorder
Psychosomatic disorder is the term used to describe the physical disease caused or made worse by mental issues. Due to mental stress, you develop physical symptoms. Let’s understand the term better. Psyche in the term means mind while soma means body. So, due to mental issues, you see physical symptoms. The condition involves both physical and mental components. In other words, the condition can trigger certain symptoms or you can experience worsening of the symptoms due to mental factors like stress or anxiety. Your mental state can directly affect physical symptoms. So, the current mental health can make your disease worse.
The disorder has different symptoms with varying severity in people. So, the presence of the condition varies with affected people. The severity depends on several factors like:
- The affected person’s mentality
- Temperament
- Suffering from underlying disease (skin conditions like psoriasis or rash)
In some people, the signs become severe, so they feel sick and depressed. It can harm your mental and physical health. While others may not feel bothered by the problem and can manage to a certain extent. Similarly, mental issues can also contribute to physical signs. For example, people suffering from depression find it difficult to eat. So, mental issues can lead to physical illness.
Diseases Coming Under Psychosomatic Disorder
The psychosomatic disorder can trigger the following diseases:
- Stomach ulcers
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
- Hypertension
- Heart Disease
According to a study, mental issues like anxiety and depression are directly responsible for triggering diseases like myocardial infarction. Want to know more about psychosomatic disorder? Then, read ahead.
Symptoms Of Psychosomatic Disorder
In all people, psychosomatic disorder begins in the mind. It can lead to the triggering of several symptoms. The main symptoms associated with the condition are:
- Nausea
- Quickened heart rate
- Tremors
- Palpitation (thumping of your heart)
- Dry mouth
- Pain
- Excess perspiration
- Rapid or fast breathing
- Chest pain
- Faintness
- Excess fatigue
- A knot in the stomach
- Neurologic problems
- Gastrointestinal complaints
Causes Of Psychosomatic Disorder
The exact reason for developing physical symptoms when you suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression remains unclear. Several studies and research are going on for specific diseases to help understand the exact link between the psyche and your symptoms. But, speculations suggest the cause of the disorder as:
Increased Nerve Impulse Activity
According to several reports, increased nerve impulse activity occurs when you suffer from stress, depression, or become anxious. It can contribute to several physical signs.
Release Of Hormone
When your body releases adrenaline or epinephrine can also trigger several physical symptoms. Your body releases the hormone when you are anxious. It is usually produced by the adrenal glands or the neurons in your medulla oblongata.
Excess Stress
According to many studies, stress can impact your body negatively. It can trigger several illnesses, including burnout. So, you suffer from symptoms associated with a psychosomatic disorder like neck pain, back pain, acidity, anger, and forgetfulness.
Types Of Psychosomatic Disorders
Emotional stress is the main cause of psychosomatic disorders. It causes several types of disorders. Here are the main types of the condition:
Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder: A Type Of Psychosomatic Disorder
When a person suffers from this type of disorder, they can experience symptoms like appetite loss, pain, gastrointestinal symptoms, and fatigue for at least six months.
Somatization Disorder
People experiencing significant physical and emotional distress in their life can suffer from somatic symptom disorder. This condition is usually seen in people between 18 years to 30 years of age. Most of the time, people experience the symptoms for several years without any proper explanation for them. Due to the problems, you can suffer from the following symptoms:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms
- Sexual symptoms
- Menstrual problems
- Fatigue
- Neurological symptoms
With treatment, you can ease the symptoms associated with the condition. Medical intervention is needed to cope with the physical symptoms and enhance the quality of life.
Unspecified Somatoform Disorder
Unspecified somatoform disorder refers to the type of psychosomatic disorder that has unexplained medical symptoms. People suffering from it can develop physical signs with no exact cause or significant impairment. One of the examples of the condition is some women falsely believe they are pregnant. They develop signs like termination of the menstrual cycle, feel the movement of the fetus, experience nausea, and labor pains.
Conversion Disorder
It is the condition that triggers physical symptoms but has no explanation. When the doctor evaluates your condition, the medical professional cannot find an exact cause for the problem. People suffering from such issues can see the following symptoms:
- Paralysis (losing sensation in one or more parts of the body)
- Vision problems (blindness)
- Sudden illness attacks
- Inability to make a sound
- Drooping of your eyelids
- Unconsciousness
- Nervous or neurologic symptoms
- Illness Anxiety Disorder (Hypochondriasis)
It is the condition where a person worries excessively that they are or may suffer from a serious illness. While the affected person shows no physical signs, you feel the normal body sensations as abnormal. The minor signs are mistaken as signs of serious illness. Due to this fear, you visit a doctor to get a proper diagnosis. But, a medical professional cannot detect a serious medical condition even with a thorough medical examination. The only signs associated with the condition are fatigue or muscle twitching. But, it is linked to serious disease. Excessive anxiety can disrupt your normal life. You cannot lead a normal life due to the problem.
Pain Disorder: A Type Of Psychosomatic Disorder
The condition triggers chronic pain in one or more areas. Psychological stress is the main cause of the problem. The pain caused due to the condition is so severe that affected people cannot function normally. It disables them from performing their normal routine. Pain caused due to the problem may remain for a short time or last for a few days. In some cases, the duration of pain can last many years. The condition can trigger symptoms like experiencing pain for long periods in one or more areas of the body. But, the condition differs from fibromyalgia and CFS as the doctors cannot detect these serious conditions with different tests. But, they are not psychosomatic disorders.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder: A Psychosomatic Disorder
It is a mental health disorder. In people this condition makes the affected person find defects with their physical appearance. So, they find one or more defects or flaws, which may appear major to the person but others may not see it. The condition can make the affected person feel ashamed, embarrassed, and anxious. It results in the person foregoing many social events and situations. Due to thinking your body is defective, you get assistance from a cosmetic surgeon to get treatments to improve the physical appearance.
The above mentioned mental issues occur due to emotional stress. The state of your mind can have a direct effect on the body. Specific treatment is not available to manage the condition. Since the disorder is not limited to physical signs alone, the treatment focuses on maintaining a balance of emotional and physical treatment.
Complications Psychosomatic Disorder
When you suffer from psychosomatic disorders, it needs medical intervention. Only with proper care and management, you can control the problem. Without professional assistance, you can suffer from complications like:
- Suffer from poor health
- Develop trouble functioning in your day-to-day life (it includes physical disability)
- Experience problems with your relationships
- Suffer from the issue at your work or deal with unemployment
- Develop other mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and personality disorders
- Deal with depression resulting in an increased risk of suicide
- Develop financial problems due to excessive visits to healthcare professionals
To avoid such serious complications, you need to see a doctor as soon as you see the initial symptoms of the condition.
Diagnosing Psychosomatic Disorder
If you see one or more symptoms associated with the condition, then see a doctor immediately. The condition worsens without medical intervention. For diagnosing a psychophysiological disorder, your physician performs a physical assessment. Other tests are recommended to detect the health condition triggering the problem. Proper treatment for the condition is prescribed. Based on the assessment, the doctor can suggest the affected person to a mental health professional. The mental health professionals conduct the following to determine the problem:
- The doctor conducts a psychological evaluation where you need to discuss the symptoms you suffer. It is important to answer honestly regarding your fears or concerns, family history, personal or professional problems, and the situation you are trying to avoid.
- Answer truthfully about the drug, alcohol, or substance abuse
- Fill out a psychological questionnaire or self-assessment
Criteria For Psychosomatic Disorder
How can your psychologist detect psychophysiological disorder? The diagnosis depends on detecting the symptoms of the disorder. When you suffer from one or more of the symptoms like fatigue or pain, which starts affecting your regular life, then you suffer from the disorder. Here are the two main factors the doctors depend on diagnosing the problem:
Persistent Thoughts Of Illness
An affected person has excessive and persistent thoughts of the seriousness of the signs developing due to the disorder. You feel anxious about the symptoms of your health. The high-level anxiety starts affecting your daily life. People with the problem devotee too much time as well as energy to think regarding health concerns.
Symptoms For More Than Six Months
The affected person suffers from several symptoms for more than six months. While the symptoms vary, it causes a general feeling of discomfort and affects daily life.
Steps Taken To Treat Psychosomatic Disorder
When you develop a psychosomatic disorder, it is a challenge to identify it and get proper treatment. You need to get the assistance of a trained mental health professional for proper diagnosis. So, your physician refers you to a psychiatrist for managing the disorder. The doctor develops a customized treatment plan based on the physical symptoms. The therapy focuses on managing the underlying psychological factor triggering the symptoms. So, the treatment aims to manage the factors like stress that can affect your health. The doctor also tries to identify any mental disorder like depression that can cause the problem.
Basic Treatment Plan For Psychosomatic Disorder
The treatment plan focuses on establishing a trusting as well as the supportive relationship between the patient and the doctor. The doctor recommends regular checkups as the main part of the treatment. Different therapies (like psychotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy) are suggested for relieving some of the underlying psychological factors associated with physical symptoms exhibited by the patient. Stress management is also an important part of the treatment. Medications are also prescribed as part of the treatment.
Effects Of Treatment On Psychosomatic Disorder
The condition may not clear once and for all when you get treatment. The symptoms may still continue despite undergoing different therapies. But, it prevents the disorder from escalating and leading to severe complications. The treatment offered by the doctor offers symptomatic relief. So, you can continue living your life without the symptoms increasing the discomfort. Your doctor can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms like headaches, fatigue, or digestive issues. But, medications are not needed in all instances.
To improve the person’s disorder, while attempting to control their somatoform symptoms, can include some different things. These things include practicing stress management techniques, keeping regularly scheduled checkup appointments, and following the treatment plan the person and their doctor design for them.
Get Relief From Psychosomatic Disorders With The Following Treatment Options
Wondering what treatments are available for psychosomatic disorders? The expert doctor like a psychiatrist to offers treatment after taking into account the mental as well as social factors linked to the disease. Here are the options available to manage the problem and improve the quality of your life:
Yoga For Psychosomatic Disorders
In Ayurveda, yoga is suggested to manage psychosomatic disorders. Yoga consists of relaxation poses and meditation. They help manage the physical and mental issues arising due to the disorders. As the symptoms develop due to stress and anxiety, practicing yoga can help you burst the stress. You can relieve the mental problems and get relief from the physical ailments. The asanas and breathing exercises will help you calm your mind. It hones your focus and awareness. So, the yoga poses can help you accept yourself as well as the surroundings. Several experiments and studies indicate the effectiveness of yoga. So, it works like a drug in case of such disorders.
Medications For Psychophysiologic Disorder
When you consult a doctor for a psychophysiological disorder, the physician prescribes specific drugs to ease the physical symptoms associated with the disorder. In most cases, psychologists or psychotherapists can also help you manage the problem more effectively. But, medications can provide temporary relief. If you suffer from anxiety, then you are more likely to suffer from the recurrence or relapse of the physical symptoms. Therefore, seeking the assistance of a psychologist becomes necessary to alleviate the root cause of the psychological problem. The different medications used for the condition are:
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCA)
- Atypical antipsychotics
- Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRI)
- Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI)
- Herbal medications
The medial professional provides the medicines based on your age, duration of the disease, intensity of the problem, and responsiveness to the suggested treatments. Most of the time, a combination of drugs is suggested by specialists to manage the problem.
Fasting Therapy For Psychophysiologic Disorder
Fasting therapy is gaining popularity for managing the psychophysiological disorder. It is a well-known form of therapy in Japan and has provided successful results in alleviating the physical as well as psychological symptoms associated with the disorder. As per the experts, the therapy regulates the nervous and endocrine system. So, as you fast, your body re-establishes the balance of mental as well as physical health.
With the therapy, the experts make the people fast for ten-day with nothing to eat. But, drinking water is provided along with 500ml parenteral fluid containing vitamins. Doctors administer the fluid through your vein every day. During the ten days, you need to take complete bed rest. For better results, the doctors suggest self-meditation. Patients are not allowed to meet anyone except for the physicians and other healthcare professionals treating them. So, they need to remain in a closed individual room. After ten days, you can start a fluid diet, soft diet, and semi-ordinary diet for the next five days. Then, you can return to the normal diet. This technique needs close supervision from the physicians.
Hypnosis For Psychosomatic Disorders
In some people, psychosomatic disorder triggers other issues like migraines, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma. So, the doctors suggest treating it with hypnosis. Hypnosis refers to a trance-like state. During this mental state, you can experience enhanced concentration, attention, and suggestibility. So, using this treatment, the doctors try to find a suitable solution to manage the physical symptoms within your subconscious. According to studies, long-term hypnotherapy is effective in resolving any underlying emotions. It also plays a significant role in stopping your psyche from affecting your body and trigger any physical symptoms. Using this therapy, doctors have successfully resolved fear, anger, and dependency issues.
 Cognitive Behavior Therapy For Psychosomatic Disorders
Cognitive behavior therapy works on the principle of how a person perceives a situation and reacts to it. CBT is the type of psychotherapeutic treatment helping people to learn about identifying as well as change the disturbing or destructive thought patterns having a negative influence on your emotions and behavior. Do you know that your thoughts are integrated with your physical sensations, emotions, behavior, and your environment? So, these factors play an important role in how you behave in a specific situation. These factors also influence your thought process along with your physical state. This ideology is used to treat the psychophysiological disorder. The technique makes you think holistically. So, you can easily get rid of health-related anxieties for ensuring a better reaction to the medication.
When you have a positive state of mind, it calms your physical condition while a stressful mind aggravates the condition. So, using CBT, you can achieve great success with the standard medical care. Scientists have established the high success rates of CBT in several trials, including severe psychophysiological disorder. Psychology plays an important role during the onset of a disease or while curing a disease. Managing stress and anxiety can help you achieve the treatment goals. Understand that stress and anxiety are more than a temporary feeling of frustration, anger, or depression. It can have lasting negative effects.
Preventing Psychosomatic Disorder
You have no specific method to prevent the condition. But, taking some steps can help to prevent psychosomatic disorder:
Seek Professional Help For Anxiety/Depression
If you are not feeling yourself or have trouble facing the day, then make an appointment with the doctor. See a doctor to help understand the problem. When you seek medical assistance, make sure you are open and honest regarding the condition. It will help the medical professional understand what is happening as well as get a clear picture of your feeling. With immediate medical intervention, you can deal with the condition better.
Recognize The Signs
Stress can trigger different symptoms in your body. Since the symptoms can vary, you need to pay close attention to the body. Try to recognize the symptoms when you feel stressed. Also, learn how stress can affect the body. The most common signs associated with stress are:
- You become easily agitated
- An overwhelming feeling
- Feel frustrated or moody
- Have trouble relaxing or calming your mind
- Feel like you need to take control or are losing control
- Feeling bad about yourself (lose self-confidence and self-esteem)
When such depressing thoughts enter your mind, take immediate action. You can practice stress management as well as relaxation techniques regularly to prevent negative thoughts from affecting your life.
Conclusion
If you suspect psychosomatic disorder, then get immediate medical help. When you suffer from any symptoms caused by an underlying disease, the mental factors can impact the prognosis. So, informing the doctor about your current mental state is necessary to get relief from the disease. It works in combination with the medication to offer you relief from the problem. With proper medical assistance, you can stop the symptoms from escalating and affecting the quality of the life. Discuss your symptoms truthfully with your doctor to get a customized treatment plan. Also, stick with the plan suggested by the doctor to prevent the symptoms from worsening and recurrence of the disease.
References
https://www.britannica.com/science/psychosomatic-disorder
https://patient.info/mental-health/psychosomatic-disorders#:~:text=A%20psychosomatic%20disorder%20is%20a,is%20at%20any%20given%20time.
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Psychosomatic-Disorders.aspx