Psychosomatic illness

Many people having lifestyle diseases ask innocently “Doctor, I want a permanent solution to my problem”. The permanent solution is in their own hands. Doctor can give medicines for temporary relief to their symptoms. Lasting cure can only be achieved by changes in lifestyle and avoiding the instigating agents. This type of advice does not go down well with many patients. They want a miracle pill or an injection from the doctor which can cure their ailment in no time and permanently. Doctors also do not have the patience or time to explain all this to the patient. It is much easier to write off a prescription with several medicines and get the tests done. It satisfies the patients psyche and is also conducive for the “industry”.

When the problem persists, some people get into the trap of psychosomatic illness. There are a variety of reasons for psychosomatic illness. Most common is fear and anxiety. People who have extreme fear or anxiety tend to get various manifestations in the body like increased acid secretion in the stomach, irritable bowel, pains in various parts of the body, etc. The fear and anxiety could be for a variety of reasons.

With comforts brought by the modern age we all are pampering our bodies in many ways. Our mind and body are getting used to pleasure so much that any pain is becoming intolerable. Added to this is the fear of anticipated pain or suffering brought on by an imaginary illness (usually cancer. COVID these days) after seeing the plight of someone in the known circles or on the other side of the globe through social media.

In some people fear alone can cause problems in the body in the form of palpitations, heartburn, pain in various body parts, weakness, etc. Some people have a minor disturbance in the body due to various reasons, which most people ignore after seeing the doctor once or twice. Whereas those with fear and anxiety tend to see their problem through a magnifying glass and keep going round various doctors. Either way, unless the underlying psychological issue is dealt with, the physical problems will not go away.

In an already anxious patient, addition of a health issue aggravates the problem and becomes a negative biofeedback loop, perpetuating the problems. After consultation with the doctor and having gone through necessary tests, if nothing significant is diagnosed, it is best to work on reducing the fear and anxiety.

Most people acknowledge and try to correct their mindset. Some people are in denial and do not even acknowledge that they have, fear and or anxiety. Many people do not want to seek psychological or psychiatric help due to social taboo. It is important for the relatives and doctors to be sympathetic with these people rather than just blaming them that they are imagining things. They need to be gently made to understand their problem and sent for appropriate psychological or psychiatric counselling, diagnosis and treatment.

If you are an anxious person, try to reduce your anxiety. But please do not diagnose yourself or brand your relative with a psychosomatic illness. This diagnosis should be made by a doctor after seeing the patient, examining and doing necessary tests.