The relationship between the mind and body is known as psychosomatics, and it is crucial to our general health. Stress related to emotions or the mind is a major contributor to a number of health issues in both adults and children. This method aids in our comprehension of how stress, anxiety, or unresolved emotions can appear in the body as physical symptoms.
Psychosomatic disorders in children frequently result from their inability to communicate their feelings, which can cause common complaints like headaches or stomachaches. Adults who experience ongoing stress or suppressed feelings may eventually develop more severe medical disorders.
We’ve put together an easy-to-understand table that illustrates the relationship between specific health problems and possible emotional causes. In this approach, parents and individuals can learn how emotional well-being impacts the body and take proactive measures to address these problems holistically.
| Condition | Possible Psychosomatic Causes |
|---|---|
| Asthma | Stress, anxiety, emotional tension |
| Headaches | Emotional stress, unresolved conflicts |
| Stomachaches | Anxiety, fear, emotional stress |
| Skin Conditions | Stress, self-esteem issues |
| Insomnia | Worry, emotional upheaval |
| Allergies | Emotional stress, suppressed emotions |
| Diabetes | Chronic stress, emotional imbalance |
| Digestive Issues | Stress, emotional conflicts |
Psychosomatics studies how psychological and emotional aspects can affect one’s physical well-being. This article describes common psychosomatic conditions in adults and children in an understandable table. It assists readers in understanding the relationship between mental and emotional health and physical symptoms by relating emotions such as stress, anger, and fear to particular physical manifestations. The intention is to provide universally applicable and useful insights so that individuals and parents can more effectively identify and treat the underlying causes of specific health problems.
What is it?
An area of psychology and medicine related to this one, called psychosomatics, explains why the physical and emotional are closely related. Ancient physicians made note of this connection. Hippocrates wrote that since many physical illnesses have their roots in the patient’s soul, they should be treated there.
Psychosomatics was primarily studied as a theory in Soviet medicine, with no real-world applications. Over time, however, even doubtful medical professionals who rejected any psychological significance in the same myocardial infarction or appendicitis started to acknowledge that the relationship is real. Psychosomatics is acknowledged as a distinct field at the intersection of anatomy, physiology, and psychology; it is neither obscurantism nor pseudoscience (as homeopathy was formerly acknowledged).
Positive and upbeat people heal more quickly; this is something that any practicing physician can attest to. Pessimists, or depressed people, push themselves further into illness when conventional therapy proves to be ineffective.
Although there are as many causes of diseases as there are people, most of them share some common characteristics. Popular writers such as Louise Hay, Liz Burbo, Valery Sinelnikov, Grigory Semchuk, Sofia Zelenkova, and Gennady Starshenbaum attempted to simplify and increase the understandability of intricate psychosomatic processes.
What diseases are considered psychosomatic?
It is important to understand which diseases are and are not psychosomatic before moving on to the causes. When a disease’s causes cannot be determined using easily accessible and widely recognized diagnostic techniques, it is classified as psychosomatic.
Psychosomatic diseases are those that, despite having a known cause, are either extremely difficult or impossible to treat with medication. The disease’s recurrent nature should indicate that there may be an underlying "mechanism" within the individual that causes exacerbations.
Psychosomatic preconditions are present in most chronic diseases. Furthermore, it doesn’t really matter how or why someone became ill for the first time. In psychosomatics, the goal is to identify the cause of recurrent exacerbations of an underlying illness rather than its underlying cause. Determining the psychogenic factors that lead to its exacerbation is crucial.
If, in spite of appropriately prescribed therapy, the patient’s condition worsens, psychosomatic components of the disease are also sought.
Mechanism of development of psychosomatosis
In order to prevent confusion caused by the tables, please describe the precise onset of a psychosomatic condition. By doing so, you’ll be able to identify the illness’s underlying cause and discover the solution.
Psychosomatic preconditions typically develop over an extended period of time, which is what makes them happen. They are grounded in feeling and cognition. However, you shouldn’t believe that a single thought can induce gastritis or cystitis. The duration of the emotion and its impact on the brain are significant factors.
Anger or fear are examples of negative emotions that can be kept hidden from other people; nobody will ever know that someone is deeply angry or afraid of something. However, your brain cannot conceal an emotion from you. The human nervous system is built on the impulse that always elicits a response impulse when it enters the cerebral cortex and other structures. Stress hormones are released in reaction to fear, and the brain instructs the muscles to "group up" in order to get ready for danger. This is a life-saving mechanism designed by nature.
Nearly every cell in the muscles tenses up. However, fear is unfounded, and as time passes, there is no actual threat. However, the fear does not go away and prevents the muscles from relaxing. It enters a frozen state, local metabolism is hampered, blood circulation is disturbed, and disease ensues. In a similar vein, the brain regulates the endocrine system. A person is more likely to become ill if they do not know how to properly let go of and "drop" emotional stress.
We all live in the same world, breathe the same air, we are surrounded by the same bacteria and viruses, we eat the same food, experience approximately similar feelings – we are all afraid of something, we all love or hate someone, we are offended by someone. But not everyone gets sick, especially with such dangerous ailments as cancer. Isn"t this a reason to think about why some people get sick once every five years, and even then it is a trivial runny nose that goes away in a few days, while others literally never leave the hospital, know the names of all the employees of the local clinic and half the register of drugs by heart?
A person ought to participate actively in their own treatment since they are the ones who cause their own psychosomatic illness through their own ideas, actions, and feelings. According to psychosomatic medicine, identifying the cause of the illness accurately is already half the battle won.
Psychosomatic disorders are the body’s means of expressing stress or unresolved feelings. A person’s mental and emotional state can cause physical symptoms in both children and adults. Understanding this relationship can help you gain a deeper understanding of some health issues.
Instead of only treating the symptoms, we can start to address the underlying emotional issues that are causing these physical symptoms. This method promotes general emotional well-being in addition to healing.
In the end, children’s and adults’ lives can be made healthier and happier by raising awareness of and being open to the mind-body connection. Being aware of psychosomatics enables us to better care for our loved ones and ourselves.
