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

“All diseases from nerves” - there was a time when scientists made fun of this phrase. However, today they are taking it seriously. There is a whole interesting section in modern science - psychosomatic medicinePsychosomatic medicine, which studies how experiences can affect physical health. Spoiler alert: very noticeable.

What is psychosomatics and how does it work

The fact that the state of the soul, of the mind (in Greek - psycho, "psycho") affects the well-being of the body (soma, "soma"), humanity has long noticedFundamental Concept of Psychosomac Disorders: A Review. Suffice it to recall the most commonplace examples: fear dries up in the mouth, resentment appears a lump in the throat. Shame makes you blush - it causes the temperature of the skin on the face to rise. Life upheavals can trigger 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 identified some psychosomatic disorders. True, as a psychoanalyst, he focused mainly on neuroses and hysteria. And as a disorder, 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) definedFundamental Concept of Psychosomac Disorders: A Review psychosomatic disorders as "obvious physiological symptoms caused by psycho-emotional factors." And by 1980 it became clear where these symptoms were coming from.

Research foundThe 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 controlNEUROPROTECTIVE PROPERTIES OF NEUROPEPTIDES metabolism, stimulate or inhibit the release 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%Medically Unexplained Physical Symptoms: What They Are and Why Counseling Psychologists Should Care about Them patients who go to doctors for one reason or another have symptoms that cannot be explained from a medical point of view.

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

The prevalence of these unexplained symptoms led scientists to speculatePsychosomatic Symptomsthat up to 20% of diseases have a psychological cause: experienced stress or feelings driven inside.

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

1. Not related to tissue damage. This group includes all kinds of respiratory disorders (for example, 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.
2. Associated with tissue damage. This includes asthma, dermatitis, eczema, stomach ulcers, mucous colitis, ulcerative colitis, urticaria, and other conditions 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 with evidence-based medicine such "diagnoses" have nothing in common.

How to treat psychosomatic illnesses

You need to start with a diagnosisPsychosomatic disorders. You need to make sure that there really is no physical explanation for your symptoms. 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 with attempts 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. Will strongly recommend rest 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.