Headache & Co: How to recognize whether your symptoms are psychosomatic

Chronic or recurring complaints can be an expression of mental stress. We explain how you recognize psychosomatic diseases.

Headaches, rapid heartbeat or bladder infections - many people keep suffering from the same physical complaints, for which there is supposedly no cause.

A visit to doctors often does not provide any information, physically everything seems to be fine. But still the pain or sensations come again and again. It is not uncommon for those affected to arise at some point: I don't imagine all of this - right?

Psychosomatic diseases: What is that actually?

In medicine, it has long been known that mental stress - such as strong grief, ongoing stress or self -doubt - also affect the body in many cases. The psyche cannot process the load alone and therefore passes it on to the body (soma).

Since many people take physical symptoms more seriously than mental, they only take back when the physical complaints broke out and take the break that the psyche needs so urgently.

Incidentally, there are no purely psychosomatic and purely physical illnesses. In medicine, it is assumed that both levels are mutually dependent on each disease, which is why it can always help with complaintsPhysical and mentalTo include factors.

By the way: If your symptoms have a psychosomatic cause, it does not mean that you only memorize the pain. It only means that the complaints are primarily triggered by physical malfunctions (such as an incorrectly working organ), but by the psyche. The perceived physical pain is the same at the end.

Also read:

How do I recognize whether my complaints are psychosomatic?

If you suffer from the same complaints again and again, you have probably already spent a lot of time looking for the causes. If you have visited doctors several times with your problem and all physical causes have been excluded, this is the first sign that your pain or sensations are triggered by your psyche.

The type of symptoms can also say something about the cause. If you have repeated complaints that can be attributed to tension (e.g. headache, neck tension or back pain) or symptoms that express an inner unrest (e.g. shortness of breath, concentration or tingling legs), this is another sign for a primarily psychosomatic illness.

Like the professor of clinical psychology and psychotherapy Dr. Shedden Mora expresses in an interview with the NDR, also gives your own handling of the symptoms an indication of whether the symptoms are physical or psychological in nature.

Take a lot of space in your life and you live constantly in the fear of the next occurrence of the pain, your psyche will probably play a crucial role in your symptoms.

Also read:

Suspected of a psychosomatic illness: what are the next steps?

If the points mentioned above meet you, it can make sense to see your general practitioner first. Together you can consider whether all the necessary examinations have been made to rule out a purely physical cause.

He or she can also make an assessment of whether it could be helpful in your case to get to the bottom of your symptoms with the help of psychotherapy. If so, it is best to make an initial interview with a psychotherapist. The health insurance company takes care of this and is therefore free of charge for you.

In the first interview you have the chance to find out whether the therapist fits you. Your counterpart can determine whether you would benefit from therapy.

You see: whether your symptoms are psychosomatic symptoms is not so clear. However, both physical and psychological factors are almost always involved in the occurrence of symptoms.

Get on advice from your/your general practitioner on the subject or make an initial appointment with a psychotherapist.

Those:Independent patient advice Germany

Important NOTE:This article only serves the information and does not replace a medical diagnosis. If uncertainties, urgent questions or acute complaints arise, you should contact your doctor or ask for advice in the pharmacy. Medical on -call duty can be reached via nationwide number 116117.