People who experience psychosomatic symptoms often seem to be obsessed with their symptoms. They usually have frequent visits to their primary care provider, often with no medical explanation for their symptoms. Health concerns become such a central focus of life, that it becomes hard to function, often leading to living a life of solitude, and sometimes disability.
Significant emotional and physical distress are present with psychosomatic symptom disorder. While everyone's experience may be different, there are some common symptoms of psychosomatic symptom disorder.
Risk Factors
Any disorder, real or perceived, has risk factors that increase the chances of the disorder occurring. For example, smoking is a risk factor for developing lung cancer. Risk factors for psychosomatic symptom disorder include, but are not limited to:
While not all medical conditions will present with psychological symptoms, there are some that may seem worse during times of stress. If you're experiencing any of the following medical conditions or symptoms and begin to feel emotional or mental strain, make an appointment with your physician for an evaluation. The conditions and symptoms include:
Many physical diseases or conditions, such as the ones listed above, may be made worse by mental factors.
Psychosomatic symptoms are very real to the person experiencing them and they should not be dismissed. The long-term effects of psychosomatic symptoms can be far-reaching. For example, psychosomatic symptom disorder has been known to be associated with:
Prevention and Treatment
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is commonly the treatment of choice for a psychosomatic disorder. CBT involves helping patients learn new ways of coping with and solving problems while gaining a deeper understanding of their physical and mental conditions. With CBT, patients learn to set realistic goals and to identify and change behaviors that may have a negative impact on their physical and emotional well-being.
Individual counseling can be done in a counselor or therapist's office, in a local mental health clinic, or online. If you are unsure about in-person sessions right now, online counseling, such as that offered by BetterHelp is a great way to get the help you need, while still having a sense of control over when and where you talk with someone.
Counselor Reviews
"I am still receiving Dr Bratton's counseling. She is a very compassionate psychologist who knows how to put words to my distressed feelings. Her expertise with stress and trauma is making me realize how much I have been coping with and the impact on my emotional and mental well being. I am still on a journey towards healing when I get safely to the other side and having Dr Bratton as my counsellor is the happiest thing I have at the moment in my life as her understanding of my feelings , mental state, pain and trauma is in itself helping me with my healing journey. I will not change her for anyone else! I am so happy that I have found her."
"I put off finding a therapist for a long time. I dreaded my first conversation with Neil and all the awkward, clunky explanations I'd have to give about my depression and anxiety. All of the things that felt like dirty little secrets that caused me so much pain. But I was so pleasantly surprised by the way Neil accurately picked up on what I was saying and gave me more insight into how my brain was working. It made my issue feel so much less of a personal problem and more of a universal problem we could examine together. He always gives me a thoughtful response within a day or two any time I send a message. I actually think we've made more progress in between sessions just by being able to communicate things that are coming up in real time. Neil is intelligent and kind. I really appreciate his communication style and highly recommend him."
Conclusion
Psychosomatic symptom disorder can have far-reaching effects on an individual's physical and mental health. As frustrating as symptoms may be, there is hope and there is help. No matter what you're experiencing, your symptoms don't have to prevent you from enjoying life. With the right tools, a truly fulfilling life is possible. Take the first step today.
Below are some commonly asked questions on this topic:
What does being psychosomatic mean?
What are some psychosomatic symptoms?
What is a psychosomatic disorder?
What is the psychosomatic effect?
What's the difference between psychosomatic and hypochondria?
Can Covid symptoms be psychosomatic?
What are the two types of psychosomatic diseases?
Are panic attacks psychosomatic?
Is depression psychosomatic?
Why do we get psychosomatic illnesses?
Therapy Is Personal
Therapy is a personal experience, and not everyone will go into it seeking the same things. But, keeping these things in mind can ensure that you will get the most out of online therapy, regardless of what your specific goals are (i.e. managing psychosomatic symptoms). If you’re still wondering if therapy is right for you, and how much therapy costs, please contact us at contact@betterhelp.com. BetterHelp specializes in online therapy to help address all types of mental health concerns, including psychosomatic symptoms.