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Psychosomatic
symptoms appear to originate in, or are worsened by, a person's beliefs, emotions
and relationship entanglements. Many psychosomatic symptoms seem to be
meaningful communications, and many diseases appear to have
psychosomatic components.
What are Psychosomatic Symptoms?
Some body (somatic) symptoms have no known physiological basis. Some symptoms seem
more related to beliefs and emotions than to actual physical damage or biological
causes. These symptoms can range in severity from mild headaches to phantom
pregnancies to cancer, and can include nausea, abdominal pain and chest pain,
breathlessness, diarrhea and giddiness and muscle pains.
Although all illnesses involve the mind (psyche) and body
(soma), there is little agreement as to what symptoms should be called
psychosomatic. Sometimes, emotional components seem particularly important, and
influence not only the cause of the illness, but can worsen the symptoms. These
illnesses are most commonly referred to as psychosomatic. Other symptoms have
apparently little emotional component and appear almost totally somatic. Beyond
biology is
psychobiology.
Like many doctors, we believe that illnesses such as
asthma, eczema, heart problems, hypertension, migraines and ulcers are
strongly influenced by emotions and beliefs - and therefore by relationships
which generate emotions and beliefs. Often, anxiety,
stress or depression seem to precipitate physical and emotional
complaints.
What is the difference
between somatic and psychosomatic complaints?
Some people consciously exaggerate or fake symptoms to avoid
examinations, work or military duty. Unconscious ways to prevent
overwork, stress etc include physical or emotional complaints, such as ...
|
Physical Complaints |
Emotional Complaints |
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
- Neck or back pain
- Muscle aches and pains
|
- Hypochondria
- Obsessions or compulsions
- Poor balance and double vision
- Anxiety, panic attacks or phobias
- Anger, irritability and impatience
|
Do relationships require
psychosomatic symptoms?
Psychosomatic symptoms can affect people at any age. They
are more likely appear during times of stress, such as divorce, examinations,
overwork, military service and other life problems. These symptoms may also
appear during intense conversations about life goals and family
relationships.
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During our coaching session I had a
headache which moved. It was weird. Then we noticed that different headache
locations corresponded to different relatives. My mother-headache was back
left, for example ... |
We find that the key issue is usually communication.
Psychosomatic symptoms seem more common in children and in people who
cannot communicate well, especially about their emotions and feelings. But how
many people are taught how to communicate their feelings ... children may be
punished for expressing emotions that their parents do not want to acknowledge.
People appear to develop psychosomatic symptoms to cope
with stress and relationships. We find that psychosomatic conditions are
often linked by family dynamics, role modeling and
identification. For example, chronic sadness,
chronic anger and
chronic anxiety seem to be passed on from family
members of one generation to the next generation. Parents lead and children
follow.
Dissolve Psychosomatic Symptoms
Expect to find multiple factors precipitating
psychosomatic symptoms. We don't seek one cause - we seek ten! If we only
find six - we keep looking! Finding all the benefits of symptoms is often
complex and tricky, so we observe non-verbal signals at least as much as
vocalized words.
You can help people dissolve psychosomatic symptoms by
helping them resolve relationship issues from which unpleasant emotions
and beliefs can drive dysfunctional behaviors and physical symptoms. If
you help people resolve the elements that underlie psychosomatic
conditions (and if body tissues have not been irreparably damaged or
removed) those conditions may seem to magically disappear.
|
I had migraine headaches for many years
- and only one since our coaching last year. I found that I was following my
mother - whose headaches allowed her to avoid anything she did not like - and
that I was clinging to her aborted child as if it was sitting on the back of
my head. I also used to overwork a lot, and now I take more holidays. |
Some health professionals recognize the importance of dealing
with relationship factors of disease
symptoms and try to heal whole people, rather than just sick body parts. And
yet some people diagnosed with psychosomatic disorders tell us that their
doctors talked to them as if they were insane. Most people
need a safe space, time and a good listener to talk about their feelings and relationships.
We provide this to help them and us gain insights into how their symptoms interact with
their lives.
Look at the whole lifestyle of people - look at their
current and past relationships, look at how they deal
with stress, and check their diet and exercise. Provide time - not only
for talking but for listening and insights but also for integration. Although
our coaching sessions may only
be an hour or two, people often describe insights that keep on coming for
days or even weeks.
People with psychosomatic
symptoms can benefit from support, understanding and compassion (but not
so much from sympathy) of family and friends. They can benefit from
friendly people who will listen and provide supportive feedback. They may
resolve many symptoms with our telephone coaching.
Consult your physician about any
opinions about medical symptoms or medical conditions.
Would you like to
benefit from our experience?
Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2008,
all rights reserved |
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