Psychosomatic troubles of our life

What does psychosomatic mean?

This term is applicable to an illness that originated from a psyche.

A Psychosomatic illness is a condition in which psychological factors affect physiological functioning, leading to manifestation of physical symptoms. These symptoms are real and not imagined, but as the medicine cannot define a root cause e.g.: migraines, they originate from emotional or mental stressors rather than from identifiable organic causes. Often a psychosomatic illness has a chronic tendency. What’s more, “chronic illness has never before constituted the problem that it constitutes today and the problem is increasing.” F. Dunbar (1943 Psychosomatic Diagnosis). The foresight of this renowned psychiatrist has been sadly correct. Through the last 80 years our way of life has changed drastically. The overwhelming access to information, the fast pace of living, the benefits of affluent society have given us comfort yet detached our mind from our body even further.

Idea of wholeness originated already in ancient Greece from the Socratic principle: “one looks to the cure of the soul in order to cure the body”. The more one investigates numerous bodily dysfunctions the more connections appear between the emotional state of the being and their illness.

Many humans undergo numerous health checks which show no symptoms of an organic disease, yet still remain sick. Frequently developing the very illness which their earlier symptoms suggested.

People often become impatient with the problems their body faces after visiting numerous doctors and constantly hearing that the physicians are uncertain what is causing this malfunction. As people become irritated and restless in obtaining health, they visit religious and mystical healers or charlatans for the relief the medical system cannot provide. Frequently such treatment is inadequate and worsens the condition. Yet many such patients make dramatic recovery or gain considerable relief from these non-medical practitioners.

We all are aware of the concept of Placebo. A ‘sugar pill’ given to an ill individual who believes that real medication was given, very often shows similar improvement as the people which received real medicine. It has been studied that the degree of consciousness and personality factor play a role in a way an individual perceives their problem and proposed remedies. 

What is the reason?

Back in 1938 there was a consensus that: “We know now that bodily changes may be brought about by mental stimuli, by emotion just as effectively as by bacteria and toxins, and that physiological changes accompanying emotion might disturb the function of any organ in the body” F Dunbar (Emotions and bodily changes).

In recent years, studies were performed to understand how energy moves through the human body following a mental state. It has clarified that physiological changes accompanying such emotional responses as fear, rage, sexual excitement, confusion, jealousy, inability to make decisions changes tension of smooth and striated muscles, the secretion and circulation with respiration. Some exams have also confirmed that such emotional drifts from homeostasis can result in changes in blood sugar, clotting time which are brought about by sympathetic, parasympathetic and endocrine systems. 

When the body reacts towards a change in state due to emotional or physical alteration there are changes being triggered to the cells and their environment.

Primarily, they prepare the organism through the nervous system with fight, flight, freeze, fawn response.

Secondly, they may exert an influence on every organ of the body to the extent of temporary alteration of function. 

Thirdly, if they are not discharged in action they tend to persist or be followed by other changes such as disturbed endocrine balance which can result in inadequate nutrition. 

Fourthly, the state of chronic disturbance of function tends to become crystallized in structural change as hemorrhoids resulting from chronic constipation. 

Finally, all such changes have their subjective components as palpitation, rapid / shallow breathing, flushing, changes in blood distribution, which are the picture of anxiety.

It should be noted that these changes can be produced by hypnosis or suggesting the appropriate emotion. It has been shown that if any such physiological disturbance persists over a long period of time it is likely to result in a structural change. 

As James Allen described in his philosophical novel (As a man thinketh 1903):

Men imagine that thought can be kept secret, but it cannot, it rapidly crystallizes into habit, and habit solidifies into circumstance.

Bestial thoughts crystalize into habits of drunkennes and sensuality, which solidity into circumstances of destitution and disease. (...)

On the other hand, beautiful thoughts of all kinds crystallize into habits of grace and kindliness, which solidify into genial and sunny circumstances.

Cushing has discovered that mechanical irritation of the emotional center in the brain hypothalamus, might influence the secretion of gastric juice, motility of the stomach and its blood supply. Thus, our emotions are the energy which governs our body.

What are some examples?

As explained, psychosomatic illness is a result of prolonged exposure to a certain stressor.

Who has not never been sick after family celebrations as e.g.: Xmas, thanksgiving. Have you ever wonder how is it possible that after time off, good food and some relaxing your body decided to strike? It is often related with feelings we have suppressed.

On the other hand who has never experienced a body ache as prevention

Examples of such illness are:

1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

2. Tension Headaches

3. Migraine Headaches

4. Cluster Headache

5. Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

6. Fibromyalgia

7. Chronic Pain Syndromes

8. Peptic Ulcers

9. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

10. Asthma

11. Eczema and other skin disorders

12. Psoriasis

13. Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism

14. Rheumatoid Arthritis

15. Palpitations

16. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

17. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)

18. Interstitial Cystitis

19. Raynaud's Disease

20. Sexual Dysfunction

21. Non-cardiac Chest Pain

22. Hemorrhoids 

23. Fractures,

24. Diabetes

This is not a complete list, but even APA (American Psychological Association) has quoted that as many as 70% of primary care visits are driven by patients with psychological problems. 

Do we all face it?

As we are creatures with a nervous system and our energy is monitored by it. We are in position to suffer the consequences of psychosomatic illness. The way we experience our life has a lot to do with the way our body behaves. Often with not an ideal diet but a built in (or learned) tension release mechanism a person can have no digestion problems. As emotions carry energy and many of us do not feel encouraged to understand them or express them in any way. They often get bottled up, affecting a specific part of the body. If you often catch a cold, strep throat, have migraines, body aches, shallow breathing, issues with sweat, digestion or your skin and there is no organic (mechanical) reason for the sickness, it is very likely that those problems are caused by blocked energy within your body which shows itself in the form of bodily dysfunction. 

How does trauma relate to psychosomatic illness?

As trauma is a psychobiological response to an overwhelming experience it always stores some information in the body. Trauma can affect your body position, your heart rate, your digestion, your secretion, your self esteem, your speaking, your fears and anxieties.

It affects our response to many life events resulting in unprocessed energy bottling up in certain parts of our organism. 

It is advised to seek professional help in trying to process traumatic experience, yet we do have some tools which can be used without supervision.

Do we have any tools against it?

Yes, we do!

I am not a doctor, therefore I would strongly advise you to test all aspects of your body which cause you trouble.

In case of any internal organ trouble firstly discuss the reasons for your issue with your physician.

If you face heavy headaches, have a CT or MRI to exclude any physical troubles.

If you face any heart problems, have a CT or other scan to exclude any physical troubles. ETC.

However, what can be done as our approach to these problems is to:

• Learn about yourself (self-analysis)

• Learn about your emotional response

• Learn breathing techniques which can give you relaxation

• Learn how to relax

• Learn what does food do to you but trying intermittent fasting

• Stabilize your sleep

• Be cautious and conscious with your diet.

• Be cautious what you allow to enter your soul, consider limiting TV & internet usage

• Practice positive thinking

• Start journaling to release tension build up inside

• Start meditating or yoga to give your nervous system a break 

• Start psychotherapy to get help from someone who can help you understand and overcome it
  

As soon as you start realizing patterns in the way your body operates you can start mapping its responses to triggers such as stress, diet, lack of exercise or sleep. We do have control over how our body behaves and serves us. The more we learn about ourselves the easier it is to manage our health.

Wish you all the best,

Tomek