Psychosomatics: what to do if nerves are to blame for diseases

"All diseases are from the nerves" - there was a time when scientists made fun of this phrase. However, today it is taken seriously. In modern science, there is a whole interesting section - psychosomatic medicine Psychosomatic medicine, which studies how experiences can affect physical health. Spoiler alert: very perceptible.

What is psychosomatics and how does it work

The fact that the state of the soul, the mind (in Greek - psycho, "psycho") affects the well-being of the body (soma, "soma"), humanity has long noticed Fundamental Concept of Psychosomac Disorders: A Review. Suffice it to recall the most commonplace examples: fear dries up in the mouth, a lump appears in the throat from resentment. Shame makes you blush - it causes the temperature of the skin on the face to rise. Life shocks can cause a heart attack.

There are so many of these examples that they could not go unnoticed by science.

In 1818, the German psychiatrist Johann-Christian Heinroth first used the term "psychosomatics", with which he established the connection between feelings, emotions, experiences and physical illness. And 100 years later, in 1922, the Austrian psychoanalyst Felix Deutsch introduced the concept of "psychosomatic medicine".

Deutsch also identified some psychosomatic disorders. True, as a psychoanalyst, he focused mainly on neuroses and hysteria. And as disorders, he considered those situations when the patient unconsciously demonstrated the symptoms of a non-existent disease in order to end a certain social conflict.

Examples: a woman who loses consciousness from an excess of anxiety about an “uncomfortable” situation. Or a child who begins to vomit at the thought of having to go back to school with strict rules.

But psychosomatics turned out to be a deeper thing than hysteria.

In 1968, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-II) defined the Fundamental Concept of Psychosomac Disorders: A Review psychosomatic disorders as "obvious physiological symptoms caused by psychoemotional factors." And by 1980 it became clear where these symptoms were coming from.

Research has discovered The psychosomatic network: foundations of mind-body medicine biologically active substances - neuropeptides. These protein structures are formed in the central nervous system, in particular in the regions of the brain associated with emotions. Distributing to organs and tissues, they affect, among other things, their physiological state.

Neuropeptides control the NEUROPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF NEUROPEPTIDES in metabolism, stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones, affect the rate of cell renewal and actively interfere with the functioning of the immune system.

Emotions affect the production of neuropeptides. And neuropeptides, in turn, control the life of the whole organism. So the connection between mental state and physiology was confirmed.

What are psychosomatic diseases?

The most different. It is known that 20-30% of Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: What They Are and Why Counseling Psychologists Should Care about Them of patients who go to doctors for one reason or another have symptoms that cannot be medically explained.

For example, a person is healthy by all objective parameters, but he has a headache every day. Or he cannot get rid of the obsessive cough. Or…

The prevalence of such unexplained symptoms led scientists to assume Psychosomatic Symptoms that up to 20% of diseases have a psychological cause: experienced stress or experiences driven inside.

According to the modern international classification Fundamental Concept of Psychosomac Disorders: A Review, psychosomatic disorders are divided into two groups:

Not related to tissue damage. This group includes all kinds of respiratory disorders (for example, an obsessive psychogenic cough or hyperventilation syndrome), some cardiovascular diseases (for example, hypertension or cardioneurosis), as well as skin disorders such as itching of an unknown nature.
Associated with tissue damage. This includes asthma, dermatitis, eczema, stomach ulcers, mucous colitis, ulcerative colitis, urticaria, and other diseases in which the skin or other organs are physically affected.

This is far from the only classification option: there are much more detailed and complex ones. And naturally, this is not a complete list of diseases, the development of which may be associated with anxiety and stress.

But what is not in the classifications is the connection between the type of stress and a specific disease. There are a lot of curious lists circulating on the Web that say, for example, that "the cause of arthritis is self-depreciation, self-doubt." Or, suppose, "the reason for myopia is that you do not want to notice what is happening around." Or: "diseases of the gallbladder arise due to excessive bile - irritability, anger at the world around us."

Such lists are outright heresy. And such "diagnoses" have nothing to do with evidence-based medicine.

How to treat psychosomatic illnesses

You need to start with the diagnosis of Psychosomatic Disorders. You need to make sure that there really is no physical explanation for your symptoms. And this means that you will have to consult with a qualified doctor, pass the tests prescribed by him, and undergo the necessary additional studies.

In no case do not try to treat pain, for example, in the area of the gallbladder by trying to "become kinder." So you can waste time and bring an otherwise curable disease to an incurable phase.

If your doctor decides that psychological factors may be causing your symptoms, they will suggest treatments to help you manage your anxiety and stress. For example, prescribe sedatives or antidepressants. Highly recommend relaxation and digital detox - giving up gadgets for a while. Will advise you to take a course of psychotherapy.

In general, an individual approach is needed in each case. And it is more efficient to look for it with the help of a qualified physician.