Beyond just being a physical ailment, sinusitis can also have psychological and emotional causes. Many people report that handling unresolved emotions or stressful situations is when they experience sinus problems. The term "psychosomatic" refers to this connection between the mind and body, which suggests that mental problems can genuinely aggravate physical illnesses.
Psychosomatic sinusitis can affect both adults and children, though the symptoms may differ in each. It may be brought on in children by emotions like fear or anxiety that they are unable to communicate. In adults, sinus problems may be brought on by or made worse by persistent stress, tension, or even grief.
Finding a more comprehensive method of treating sinusitis may be made easier by being aware of these underlying emotional causes. By considering the mind-body connection and going beyond the symptoms, we may be able to better manage and prevent flare-ups.
General information
One kind of sinusitis is an inflammatory condition called sinusitis. There may be inflammation of one or more sinuses’ mucous membranes. When frontal sinusitis occurs, inflammation of the frontal sinus is seen, whereas in cases of sinusitis, the maxillary sinus becomes inflamed.
An acute respiratory viral infection frequently results in sinusitis as a complication. The illness may be brought on by pathogenic fungus or bacteria. The illness may worsen following a facial trauma.
A pressing heaviness in the sinuses that intensifies into pain when one tries to sharply turn, raise, or lower their head is a symptom of sinusitis. Breathing through the nose is very difficult, and a clear or foul-smelling mucus discharges out of it.
Children with sinusitis most frequently range in age from three to fifteen. In these patients, sleep disturbance and memory impairment are further consequences of sinusitis. Children frequently have chronic sinusitis, which gets worse multiple times a year.
In addition, adults typically have a chronic form of the illness; adult cases of acute sinusitis are extremely uncommon.
Psychosomatic causes
According to both psychosomatics and conventional medicine, the nose is an organ that is used for breathing and for detecting smells. In psychosomatic medicine, the relationship between an organ’s physiology and an individual’s psychological state is taken into account. According to the psychosomatic explanation, this organ serves as a conduit for vital information to be received from the outside world. You can "breathe" life through your nose, and you can enjoy life by savoring scents thanks to your sense of smell.
An adult or child’s inability to breathe through their nose actually becomes a barrier to their ability to perceive life and enjoy it. People frequently put themselves in the way of such obstacles. A person gets a runny nose the moment he or she loses interest in life and fails to recognize its "shadows."
However, sinusitis is an inflammatory condition in addition to nasal congestion. In psychosomatics, irritation, anger, and repressed negative emotions are invariably closely linked to inflammation. When a person has sinusitis, he "carries" a lot of negative emotions inside of him that keep him from fully appreciating and "breathing" life.
It’s a common misconception that people who are accustomed to holding in their own tears can get sinusitis. This makes sense from a medical perspective: tears clean and disinfect the nasal passages by entering through the nasolacrimal canal.
Sniffling from crying children is a sign of how tear fluid affects the nasal passages.
The chance of sinusitis increases quickly if an individual refuses to cry.
"Internal crying" is a term used in psychology. Anybody can experience it, regardless of age, personality, or upbringing. However, in some, "internal crying" emerges and purges the emotional background as well as the nose (people cry it out, spill their souls, and feel better), while in others, "internal crying" is suppressed and they forbid themselves from expressing their emotions.
These kids and adults, who think crying is impolite, unattractive, and unacceptable, are more likely than others to get sinusitis. A person who has had chronic sinusitis for a long time is described by psychologists as being extremely sensitive and even suspicious on the inside, but stingy with their emotions and reserved on the outside.
And these encounters, which he would rather keep inside, start to slowly kill him. These folks are prone to anger, which also doesn’t show up on the outside, and they have low self-esteem. The individual just clenches his fists and moves away, adding to his "internal piggy bank" of "destructive" experiences.
In children
At first glance, it may seem that children should not suffer from sinusitis and sinusitis at all, because they shed tears so easily. But this is only at first glance. In the mechanism of disease development in childhood, parents or other adults who raise a child are always to blame. For example, a strict mother says to a toddler who has gone wild on a playground outside: “Stop crying! You are already big!». A loving mother pities and soothes the child, strokes his head and gently says: "Well, that"s it, don"t cry!" Thus, The child receives experience that tells him that it is impossible to cry, that this is a manifestation of weakness, And as they grow older, the child stops crying completely.
Some parents even go so far as to "squeeze" their child’s ability to cry from an early age as part of their educational strategies. Because he is a boy and "men do not cry," mothers and fathers of boys who are one year old peanuts typically authoritatively and strictly forbid their children from roaring.
Childhood installations have become deeply "settled" in the subconscious. Is it not the case that men, and not women, are more likely than women to suffer from chronic forms of sinusitis in adults? Girls, girls, and women are more prone to vulnerability and are better able to "give" through tears feelings such as resentment, irritation, and anger.
Lack of love and attention should be regarded as the primary risk factor for the development of childhood sinusitis if suppressed crying is the primary cause of the illness. When parents are constantly preoccupied and barely give their child any attention, the child starts to feel unimportant and is forbidden by strict rules from crying about it. The most severe sinusitis occurs in this scenario, characterized by a high fever and a protracted illness.
Excessive care is another flawed educational model that permits you to raise a child with ENT pathologies. A child who is able to feed and clothe themselves does not require assistance. If parents begin to do this, they are effectively "smothering" their child, which can lead to respiratory issues such as sinusitis and nasal congestion as well as lung issues like bronchitis.
Opinion of researchers
Because sinusitis is so common, experts have been researching the psychology of the condition; many of them have created disease tables that include sinusitis. Thus, suppressed internal resentment toward loved ones was identified by psychologist and educator Louise Hay as the primary cause of sinusitis in both children and adults.
She thought that nasal pathology arises because people who are understated, uncertain in their relationships, emotionally restrained, or unsure of themselves are unable to enjoy life "to the fullest." According to Hay, an individual’s psychological response to being in a situation where they cannot see a way out is acute sinusitis. And according to Dr. Louise, persistent sinusitis is an indication that a person has been living in a state of uncertainty for a long time.
Dr Liz Burbo, a Canadian researcher, asserts that sinusitis is a condition that only affects the closed. When maxillary sinus inflammation occurs, a person shuts his own nose because he does not want to "breathe in the world."
According to doctor-therapist and psychotherapist Valery Sinelnikov, sinusitis arises in people who have an inferiority complex, lack confidence in their own abilities, and find it difficult to accept everything new in the outside world.
| Cause | Description |
| Unexpressed Emotions | Holding in feelings like sadness or frustration can lead to sinus issues as the body manifests the emotional blockage physically. |
| Fear of Conflict | Fear of disagreements or confrontations might result in sinusitis, reflecting an internal struggle to find balance or peace. |
| Repressed Grief | Unprocessed grief, such as from a loss, can trigger sinus problems, as the body struggles to release emotional pain. |
| Stress and Anxiety | High levels of stress or anxiety can weaken the immune system, making the body more prone to sinus infections. |
| Lack of Self-Expression | Not speaking up for oneself or feeling unheard can cause sinusitis, representing a struggle with personal boundaries or voice. |
Recognizing that sinusitis is more than just physical symptoms can assist us in understanding its psychosomatic causes. Both in children and adults, emotional stress, unresolved conflicts, and suppressed feelings can be factors in sinus problems. We are able to develop a more comprehensive strategy for treating sinusitis by addressing these emotional triggers.
It is important for parents to monitor their children’s emotional health because stress and anxiety can cause physical symptoms such as sinusitis. Understanding how one’s emotional state impacts one’s physical well-being can be a potent healing tool for adults. The effects of these triggers can be greatly lessened by incorporating positive communication, therapy, and relaxation techniques.
While medication and nasal care are the mainstays of traditional sinusitis treatments, a more thorough recovery may be possible with a deeper understanding of the emotional causes. Maintaining good physical and mental health is essential for preventing sinus issues and enhancing general wellbeing.
Not only is sinusitis a physical condition, but emotional stress and unresolved psychological conflicts can also cause it in adults and children. The body’s immune system can be weakened by stress, anxiety, or other negative emotions, leaving the body more vulnerable to infections and inflammations like sinusitis. Understanding these psychosomatic causes is essential to treating the illness in a holistic manner, addressing the body and mind for longer-lasting and more effective relief.
