Psychosomatic pain remains a mystery to many, including those in the medical field. How can a person obtain help for the pain of this type? What can a person do to bring this problem under control and live a higher quality of life? Following are four things every person needs to know about psychosomatic pain.
4 Things You Should Know About Psychosomatic Pain
Psychosomatic is a term used when mental factors are thought to cause physical symptoms, but where there is no physical disease. Here are four things you should know about psychosomatic pain.
1. Many Patients Have Multiple Issues or Disorders
Numerous individuals have more than one issue they are facing. For example, many substance abusers also have a mental illness. When the drug abuse is solely treated, and the mental illness is left undiagnosed or ignored, the odds of recovery decrease significantly. When the person is experiencing psychosomatic pain, he or she may find it even harder to get the needed treatment for reasons described below. Patients need to find the appropriate treatment facility to ensure all issues or disorders are addressed at this time. Visit www.harrishousestl.org for more information on treatment options for patients with more than one issue or disorder.
2. Mindset Plays a Role in Psychosomatic Pain
A person who suffers from anxiety or a lack of self-confidence may find his or her symptoms are worse than someone who does not have these issues. Someone who feels he or she is more competent will find it easier to overcome the pain and achieve a higher level of functioning. In contrast, someone who believes every minor issue is a major catastrophe will likely find it harder to deal with chronic pain and overcome it. By changing the mindset, a person may find the pain becomes less of an issue in their daily life.
3. Psychosomatic Pain May Be Attributed to Other Causes
The nerves carry pain signals to the brain, such as when a person touches a hot stove. When the finger or hand comes into contact with the stove, the brain is alerted to the fact that it is hot and tells the hand or finger to move away from the heat source. However, the brain also sends signals to the body and determines how much pain a person can take. When the brain perceives a certain type of pain to be of importance, it amplifies it. In contrast, when the brain feels the pain isn’t important, the feeling is discounted.
Prolonged or psychosomatic pain may be the result of the brain determining the pain is important and having it manifest in physical symptoms. This may help to explain the chronic back pain many experience, along with a variety of other disorders. However, the pain might be attributed to other causes by medical professionals or dismissed as simply a figment of the person’s imagination.
4. Physicians Don’t Understand Psychosomatic Pain
Doctors often don’t understand psychosomatic pain. In fact, while these disorders often appear to be completely physical in nature, they often have an emotional component. The problem is so prevalent that there are now hundreds of disorders or illnesses that have a psychosomatic component that isn’t recognized by physicians. If they are recognized, the patient is told the problem is all in their mind.
As a result, the patient is left feeling isolated or alone with nowhere to turn for help. His or her emotions are leading to physical issues, but the medical professional isn’t of assistance. In this situation, the patient must continue to search for answers to his or her problems as they won’t improve without help. Often, this requires a psychologist or psychotherapist to be consulted.
If you are experiencing pain, seek help. When one doctor says, it’s all in your mind, visit another. Don’t give up, as the pain you are experiencing is real. It’s a matter of finding out what is leading to the agony and receiving help to overcome it. This may come in the form of psychological treatment or something else completely. It’s all a matter of never giving up until you obtain the relief you deserve.
