Some who are unfamiliar with mental illness may mistake the symptoms for normal human feelings. Anxiety is seen as nervousness, PTSD as anger, and depression as sadness. This is not only a false conception of mental illness, but it also fails to account for the reality of psychosomatic symptoms. Always be on the lookout for loved ones who may be struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues, and do what you can to help them.
What exactly is a psychosomatic disorder?
A psychosomatic disorder is characterized by the presence of physical symptoms that cannot be explained by any underlying medical condition. Some people with this disorder have trouble functioning because they focus too much on their symptoms.
People who suffer from psychosomatic disorders rarely exhibit obvious signs of emotional distress. They attribute their issues, instead, to health issues, which is not the case. They may experience frustration and distress as a result of their seemingly endless visits to the doctor for tests and treatments without ever receiving a definitive diagnosis.
Somatic symptom disorder, somatic symptoms, and somatic pain are all names for psychosomatic illness.
Somatic symptom disorder: how common is it?
Five percent to seven percent of the population experiences somatic symptom disorder. For unknown reasons, somatic pain affects women roughly 10 times more frequently than men. The mind-body connection is so powerful that it can even cause psychosomatic symptoms. Physical manifestations of mental illness are sometimes experienced as the condition worsens. These problems will not have an easily identifiable physical root. Indeed, stress hormones are usually to blame. Psychosomatic symptoms are present in most mental illnesses, but they are especially prevalent in anxiety disorders. Your anxiety may become more manageable if you Canadian online pharmacy that delivers prescription drugs to your door.
System(s) of the Body Affected by Psychosomatic Symptoms
Anxiety manifests itself in many different ways throughout the body. It’s possible to experience a wide range of psychosomatic symptoms affecting various bodily systems. During an anxiety attack, it is common for a person to display multiple symptoms, though not all of the psychosomatic ones.
The Digestive Process
Stomach issues are a common manifestation of anxiety. In this case, a person’s digestion and bowel habits may change. Specifically, the following are some of the symptoms:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Heartburn
- Bloating \sGas \sConstipation
- Diarrhea
The Heart and Blood Vessels
As anxiety levels rise, the body releases chemicals that have a profound effect on the cardiovascular system. For this reason, heart problems are a common manifestation of psychosomatic disorders. Therefore, a person may go through any of the following effects:
- increased heart rate
- Elevated blood pressure
- Heartbeats that are too fast
- Sudden, severe chest pain
- Abdominal discomfort
Physiology of the Nervous System
The functions of various parts of the body are affected by the nervous system. The body goes into “fight, flight, freeze, or fawn” (4F) mode in response to anxiety and stress. These responses have been covered extensively in other blogs. When triggered under the right conditions, the reaction helps us be ready for dangerous situations. Anxiety can activate multiple modes of the nervous system, not just the 4F mode. These additional psychosomatic symptoms like Headaches, Hurts all over, Cold sweats, Constant agony, Discomfort in the back, and Perspiration that exceeds normal levels are also possible:
