Psychosomatic illness: Encyclopedia - Psychosomatic illness

Psychosomatic illness

A Psychosomatic illness is an illness which exists because of a particular reason. "Psycho-" means of the mind and "-somatic" means of the body. The body and mind are together interacting. That is the meaning of the word. An illness produced by or maintained by the interaction is properly called a psychosomatic illness. In some instances a psychosomatic illness might otherwise become cured but for the interaction of mind and body. An example of this situation are the things like stomach ulcers that are more often found in high stress jobs than elsewhere. If a medical examination can find no physical or organic cause, if an illness appears to result from emotional conditions such as anger, anxiety, depression and guilt then it might be classified psychosomatic.

Psychosomatic symptoms show that a human body can create physical symptoms that compensate for relationship deficiencies. (For example, hypnosis-induced allergic reactions indicate that a person's immune response can dramatically change during an intense relationship).

Many autoimmune diseases seem to have psychosomatic origins. In autoimmune diseases, the body becomes allergic to parts of itself, and damages body tissues. Autoimmune diseases may be called collagen vascular diseases if the immune system attacks supportive tissues and blood vessels. Autoimmune disease often follows trauma, exposure to toxic materials and chaotic relationships.

Psychosomatic illness - Solutions

Although psychosomatic disease might improve or disappear following suggestion by a recognized authority, both the psycho and somatic aspects of psychosomatic symptoms may vanish if people improve their relationships.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, for example, are usually considered to be psychosomatic illnesses. Like many eating disorders, they respond well to relationship coaching and various forms of counseling, usually under a physician's supervision.

Psychosomatic illness - Other therapies

Chinese Medicine is known for correcting conditions which are not purely physical.

Dianetics claims to cure psychosomatic illness.

Holistic health offers non-physical solutions for disease.

Systemic coaching helps people solve systemic (relationship) problems.

Psychosomatic illness - History

Many identifiable illnesses have previously been labelled as 'hysterical' or 'psychosomatic', for example asthma, allergies, and migraines. Some illnesses are under debate, including multiple chemical sensitivity, Gulf War Syndrome, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Some people suggest that stigmatics suffer a psychosomatic illness based on identifying with the biblical crucified Jesus.

See also

• Hypochondria
• Munchausen syndrome
• Georg Groddeck

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Psychosomatic illness", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki