Hypochondria is different from psychosomatic illness. Psychosomatic illness is actual physical illness that is the outcome of prolonged periods of emotional stress. The person with hypochondria worries that something is wrong with his or her body when there is nothing wrong.
Unlike hypochondria, people with psychosomatic illness present with symptoms that are real, but have no medical explanation.
For example, these include psoriasis, eczema, stomach ulcers, high blood pressure and heart disease. It is thought that the actual physical part of the illness (the extent of a rash, the level of the blood pressure, etc) can be affected by mental factors.
What Are Psychosomatic Illnesses? Psychosomatic illnesses happen when people develop physical symptoms that have no clear medical cause and appear to be influenced by the person's emotional state. Sometimes psychosomatic symptoms and illnesses have negative connotations.
Do you have psychosomatic symptoms? 6 common signs. Some other psychosomatic symptoms include numbness, dizziness, chest pains, weight loss, ongoing cough, jaw tightness, shortness of breath and insomnia.
Alexander (1950) used the term psychosomatic when pointing out how psychological factors could precipitate or aggravate seven specific diseases, called ''the holy seven'', i.e., peptic ulcer, bronchial asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, es- sential hypertension, neurodermatitis and thyrotox- icosis (4).
In the first one, a person has a mental and physical illness, whose symptoms and management complicate each other. The second category involves a person who experiences mental issues due to the medical condition and its treatment.
[Fibromyalgia syndrome as a psychosomatic disorder - diagnosis and therapy according to current evidence-based guidelines] Z Psychosom Med Psychother.
Psychosomatic disorders resulting from stress may include hypertension, respiratory ailments, gastrointestinal disturbances, migraine and tension headaches, pelvic pain, impotence, frigidity, dermatitis, and ulcers.
Increased heart rate and respirations. Increased blood pressure. Upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea. Increased or decreased appetite which may be accompanied by weight loss or gain.
Hypochondriac comes ultimately from the Greek word hypokhondria, which literally means “under the cartilage (of the breastbone).” In the late 16th century, when hypochondriac first entered the English language, it referred to the upper abdomen.
It is not clear why people have hypochondria, but it is more common in people who: have had major stress, illness or a death in the family. were neglected or abused as a child. have a serious physical illness.
A hypochondriac is someone who lives with the fear that they have a serious, but undiagnosed medical condition, even though diagnostic tests show there is nothing wrong with them. Hypochondriacs experience extreme anxiety from the bodily responses most people take for granted.
Don't dwell on illness. Encourage them to verbalize fears about their health, but don't join in. Be supportive, but don't show too much concern and try to stay neutral in your answers. Express that you understand their struggle, without encouraging their obsessive thoughts.
Do you often find yourself worrying about everyday issues for no obvious reason? Are you always waiting for disaster to strike or excessively worried about things such as health, money, family, work, or school? If so, you may have a type of anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Somatopsychic disorders are mental disorders caused or exacerbated by somatic disorders. In contrast to psychosomatic disorders, the list of somatic conditions causing mental disorders keeps expanding as scientific knowledge advances. Many general medical conditions are recognized as causing psychiatric symptoms.
In a psychosomatic illness, emotional stress or other psychological problems play key roles in the course of the physical signs and symptoms. For example, depression can contribute to psychosomatic illness, especially when the body's immune system has been weakened by severe or chronic stress.
Illness anxiety disorder is a chronic mental illness previously known as hypochondria. People with this disorder have a persistent fear that they have a serious or life-threatening illness despite few or no symptoms. Medications and cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) can help.
The main psychosomatic treatment is psychopharmacological therapy with antidepressants, including tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors(SNRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors(SSRIs), and other antidepressants (e.g., mirtazapine)".
Psychosomatic symptom disorder can have far-reaching effects on an individual's physical and mental health. As frustrating as symptoms may be, help may be available. Working through your mental health and stress with beneficial techniques from a licensed therapist may also reduce your physical symptoms.
“Psychosomatic disorders are not neurological disorders. They belong to the fields of psychology and psychiatry.