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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 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 seem to 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. Other symptoms
apparently have little or no emotional component and may 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 important emotions and feelings.
But how many people are taught how to communicate their feelings ...
children are often punished for expressing emotions that their parents
do not want to acknowledge or respond to.
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.
Solutions for Psychosomatic Symptoms
Expect to find multiple factors precipitating
psychosomatic symptoms. (I don't seek one cause - I seek ten! If I
only find six - I keep looking! Martyn) Finding all the benefits
of symptoms is often complex and tricky, so we observe and respond to non-verbal
signals at least as much as we listen to vocalized words.
We 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
we 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 ... I also found that I was clinging to her aborted
child as if it was sitting on the back of my head. I 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 many people diagnosed
with psychosomatic disorders have told 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 space to gain insights into how their symptoms
interact with their lives.
We look at the whole lifestyles of people - we look at
their current and past relationships, we look at how they deal with
stress, and we often check their diet and exercise. We provide time - not only
for talking but for listening and insights but also for integration. Even after a
single session, people often describe insights that keep on coming for
days or even weeks.
Adults with psychosomatic
symptoms can benefit from support, understanding and compassion (but not
so much from sympathy) of family and friends. They often benefit from
friendly people who will listen and provide supportive feedback.
Sometimes its spooky to watch symptoms vanish! It looks
like a Hollywood special effect in slow-time! We have seen many somatic
symptoms vanish or lessen during and immediately after our coaching.
Consult your physician about any
opinions about medical symptoms or medical conditions.
Click HERE to make an appointment!
Plagiarism is theft. Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2008-2010
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