Contents:
- Medical Video: Somatic Symptom Disorders Part II: Core Features and Treatment
- Every disease must have an influence from the mental side
- How can the mind affect the health of the body?
- Various treatment options for dealing with psychosomatic disorders
Medical Video: Somatic Symptom Disorders Part II: Core Features and Treatment
The term psychosomatic disorder is used to describe physical illness that is thought to be caused or exacerbated by mental factors, such as stress and anxiety. Psychosomatic consists of two words, thoughts (psyche) and body (soma) So, literally psychosomatic disorders are interpreted as diseases that involve the mind and body. In many cases, the mind is able to influence a person's body to trigger disease or aggravate an illness.
Every disease must have an influence from the mental side
In people who have psychosomatic disorders, every physical illness must have an influence from the mental side. This happens because of how the body reacts and overcomes a disease that varies greatly in each person. For example, some people may not feel disturbed when experiencing a psoriasis rash. However, for others, this disease can actually make them feel depressed and the disease becomes even more painful.
Not only that, mental illness is also very likely to affect one's physical condition. For example, when a person experiences mental illness, they may not have appetite, are lazy to move, or are reluctant to take care of themselves. As a result, a variety of physical problems or illnesses can easily appear.
Some diseases are considered very susceptible to being caused or exacerbated by mental factors such as stress and anxiety. For example eczema, hypertension (high blood pressure), ulcers, heart disease, and psoriasis.
When mental factors give rise to symptoms of the disease, but the disease itself cannot be found or detected or complains of pain that does not match the symptoms, this condition is also grouped in psychosomatic disorders.
How can the mind affect the health of the body?
For example, when you feel afraid or anxious, generally there will be signs such as heart palpitations, heart rate fast, nausea or want to vomit, trembling (tremor), sweating, dry mouth, chest pain, headache, pain stomach, rapid breathing, muscle aches, or back pain.
Well, a series of physical symptoms arises because of increased activity of nerve impulses from the brain to various parts of the body. The release of the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine) into the bloodstream can also cause physical symptoms above. In addition, some evidence says that the brain can affect certain cells of the immune system, which are involved in various physical ailments.
Actually until now experts still do not know how the mind can emerge physical symptoms and diseases. Even so, experts believe that stress can damage a person's health not only mentally but also physically. This is what allows a person to get sick or the pain gets worse when stressed.
Various treatment options for dealing with psychosomatic disorders
Basically, every disease has its own treatment options. But in cases of psychosomatic disorders generally can be overcome or alleviated in several ways, such as:
- Psychotherapy, for example with CBT therapy
- Take antidepressants or non-narcotic painkillers
- Relaxation exercises
- Distraction or diversion techniques
- Acupuncture
- Hypnotherapy
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- Physiotherapy
Routine consultation with doctors and mental health specialists is an important key to helping those with this psychosomatic disorder.
