How to Manage Psychosomatic Disorders
Emotional stress or other psychological issues often play major roles in the progression of the physical symptoms and indicators of a psychosomatic illness. For instance, sadness can exacerbate psychosomatic sickness, particularly if the body's immune system has already been compromised by significant or ongoing stress.
The idea that a psychosomatic ailment is fictional or "all in the head" is a popular one. Psychosomatic symptoms, like any other ailment, might exist and need to be treated.
Unfortunately, some persons are discouraged from getting therapy due to the prevalent societal stigma associated with psychosomatic sickness. Additionally, stigma exists in the research and medical communities, in part as a result of the personal experiences of health professionals.
Understanding the physical impacts of mental and emotional stress can help you manage its effects on your health.
These are typical physical symptoms of stress:
Digestive issues
Dizziness or shaking
Headaches
Muscle aches and pain
Racing heart
Elevated blood pressure
The physical symptoms of stress can differ between the sexes. Naturally feminine people, for instance, frequently describe indicators like menstruation changes and stomach bloating along with symptoms like weariness (despite having enough sleep) and irritability while under stress.
Males are more prone than females to experience chest pain, elevated blood pressure, and changes in sex drive as signs and symptoms of stress. Take help from the Best psychiatrist in India.
Age also affects the types of stress symptoms and signs. Children frequently experience stress physically since they haven't yet learned how to express their emotions through language. For instance, a child who is struggling in school can get regular headaches or stomach aches.
Teenage years can be a particularly stressful time, especially during times of significant hormonal and social transition. Adults frequently misdiagnose adolescent depression as usual "teen angst" when observing indicators of stress.
Due to their struggles with loneliness, loss and bereavement, and health issues, older persons are also more vulnerable to depression. Knowing the symptoms of aging-related depression is crucial if you are caring for an elderly loved one.
Researchers are aware that stress and depression can show as physical pain and sickness, even though the precise processes of stress are not fully known.
Although it's a complicated procedure, the following analogy might be useful.
Similar to a pressure cooker, your body. It operates effectively if the steam can be released. If the steam can't escape, the pressure will increase until the lid bursts. Now visualize adding more pressure to the cooker's existing pressure to keep the lid on. The container will crack at its weakest location when it can no longer withstand the full amount of pressure.
Someone who experiences stress and is unable or unable to express their feelings will eventually reach their breaking point. Physical symptoms or a significant depressive episode could ensue from this.
You might be able to spot some omens that a break was imminent in the afterimage. For instance, if you frequently strain your neck, you might feel more pain when under stress. Stress can also settle into your body through other typical symptoms like headaches, back discomfort, and stomach issues.
Additionally, stress might damage your immune system. For instance, certain individuals tend to contract colds, the flu, or other ailments and infections when under stress, and they may require more time to recover.
The fight-or-flight reaction of the body to stress involves the release of several hormones, including adrenaline, which can be highly helpful in a life-or-death circumstance. These molecules may, however, cause more harm than benefit if the body produces large levels of them or if they are continuously released over a lengthy period (as is the case with chronic stress).
Even while you might be referred to a mental health practitioner, your physical symptoms may not simply need psychological care. It's crucial to learn appropriate stress management techniques, but it can take time. Your healthcare provider may use medication, mindfulness training, or Cognitive therapy to manage your physical discomfort and other symptoms in the interim.
Going back to the instance of neck pain: Learning to manage stressful triggers can assist if it tends to get worse with stress, but the pain is real. Although the stress may originate in your brain, it can also lead to the release of substances that trigger inflammation in your neck muscles, such as cortisol. You have very real physical discomfort as a result, which your healthcare provider can treat.
Psychosomatic sickness can also be compared to a river that overflows after a dam collapses. The dam needs to be fixed if more flooding is to be avoided. However, while the dam is being restored, it must be handled with the flooding that has already occurred.
There are various types of stress. Eustress, or constructive stress, keeps life stimulating. It's the emotion that keeps you motivated and makes you want to get out of bed in the morning. You've experienced "positive" stress if you've ever relished the rush of a roller coaster or felt delight and accomplishment upon finishing a task.
On the other hand, you will understand what "poor" stress feels like if you have gone through a significant loss, a significant upheaval in your life, or other unpleasant stressors. You can experience negative stress in your body and mind, just like you can with positive stress. You can acquire coping methods after you can pinpoint your primary sources of stress. Avoidance is one of the first and most crucial things. Learn coping mechanisms from a good therapist or Online counselor at your convenience, you can even find a top therapist by searching for the “Best psychologist delhi”.
Learn to let go of what isn't benefiting you while you deal with psychosomatic sickness and the physical side effects of stress. First, acknowledge your humanity and provide some grace to yourself. Then, engage in the challenging but essential emotional work, such as allowing yourself to experience painful feelings.
Additionally, let go of previous guilt and expectations that have been controlling your conduct. Giving up part of your control or letting go of your urge to strive for perfection may benefit you. As long as you put forth effort and try your best, it is acceptable to fall short of your goals. Guidance from the Best psychologist in India or a Counseling psychologist becomes a necessity.
Additionally, you may schedule an appointment with the top professional psychologists and receive Mental health counseling at the Psychowellness Centre, which has many locations in Delhi NCR, NOIDA, Faridabad, Janakpuri, Dwarka, and Vasant Vihar.
Contribution: Dr (Prof) R K Suri, Clinical Psychologist, life coach & mentor TalktoAngel & Ms Aditi Bhardwaj, Psychologist.
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