We commonly hear that falling in love can cause “butterflies” in one’s stomach and hearing a scary tale can send chills up your spine… but have you ever had depression that caused your joints to ache or anxiety so bad you couldn’t swallow? Or maybe you have experienced transient unpleasant physical symptoms but your medical doctor has given you a clean bill of health. These are the kinds of phenomena that patients with somatic symptom disorder face.
Somatic symptom disorder occurs in about 5 to 7 percent of the adult population (my.clevlandclinic.org). The most common complaints are pain and fatigue, but sexual dysfunction, digestive disruption, and many other system disorders have been reported. Because there is no obvious medical problem causing the bothersome symptoms in the patient, it can be very difficult for a patient to be diagnosed, and it can take a long time to find the right clinician for treatment; a mental health clinician not a medical one. This process can be distressing and patients can become preoccupied with their health.
Luckily, there are proven therapies to help patients ease the physical symptoms related to their mental health issues, namely psychotherapy. (Mayoclinic.com) Biofeedback, meditation, and muscle relaxation have also been found to be effective. It is believed that childhood trauma and anxiety disorders are the main culprits bringing about the physical symptoms, and addressing these problems face on in therapy can help much more than just the way one’s body feels. By confronting the problems that make us feel ill, we treat more than just the symptoms, we heal the whole person.
To schedule an appointment with Maureen Crocker or another one of our knowledgeable therapists, go to: https://www.becomepsyched.com/get-appointment