About (unexplained) physical issues and/or illness
It may seem unusual to visit a psychologist for physical complaints such as back pain, stomach pain or palpitations, but physical and psychological issues often occur together.
It often happens that people with permanent injuries or physical health problems also struggle mentally. The reverse is also true: psychological problems can show themselves through physical complaints.
Unexplained physical issues
Do you suffer from physical complaints such as headaches, insomnia or back pain, while your GP has not been able to find the cause? Often these symptoms disappear after a while, but sometimes they remain for a long time or even get worse. In some cases a medical cause is found, but the symptoms are more severe or last longer than expected. In that case you may be dealing with unexplained physical complaints, also known as medically unexplained symptoms.
Unexplained physical complaints are disorders in which you experience physical symptoms without a complete physical explanation being found after medical examination.
In the past, people sometimes said these complaints were “all in the mind”, as if the symptoms were imagined. In reality, it is much more complicated than that.
Today we know that mental health problems such as stress and anxiety can lead to a wide variety of serious symptoms, including pain, digestive issues, skin problems and much more. These complaints are real and deserve to be taken seriously. In addition, symptoms with an underlying physical cause can become worse because of stress and anxiety. Body and mind cannot be separated.
The following physical complaints may occur:
- Digestive disorders
- Chronic headache
- Neck, shoulder or back pain
- Muscle or joint pain
- Chronic fatigue
- Skin problems
- Weight changes
- Dizziness
- Heart palpitations
- Insomnia
If your symptoms cannot be fully explained physically, psychological factors such as stress, a traumatic event or relationship problems may play a role.
Stress, for example, can lead to headaches, stomach pain or muscle pain. Sleep problems may also be related to depression or an anxiety disorder. It is not always clear what is the cause and what is the effect, but it is well known that these problems can reinforce each other.
Treatment of unexplained physical issues
If it is unclear where your physical symptoms come from, this can make you very worried. If after some time the unexplained complaints remain or worsen, it may be wise to consult a psychologist.
During treatment, we examine which psychological factors may be causing, worsening or maintaining your physical symptoms. Once this becomes clear, we can adjust the treatment accordingly and start addressing the problems.
In some cases the physical complaints do not disappear completely. During treatment we then focus on how you can deal with your symptoms better, so that they interfere less with your daily life.
Psychological issues with a physical cause
If you have physical problems due to illness or injury, this can be very difficult to cope with. You can think of an accident with permanent injury such as whiplash or complicated fractures, a chronic illness such as diabetes or rheumatism, or a terminal illness such as cancer or COPD.
The process of diagnosis, acceptance, treatment and dealing with permanent physical limitations can be very demanding. It may be hard to adjust to a new situation, a life that is different from the life you knew or expected. You may feel stressed about your family life or career. You may feel lonely when people around you do not fully understand what you are going through, and you may feel confused or depressed because of all the changes.
Treatment of psychological issues with a physical cause
The guidance for clients with psychological complaints resulting from physical or health problems depends on the symptoms and the personal needs of the client. Treatment mainly focuses on acceptance, processing and learning how to live with the new situation.
In consultation with you, it may also be decided to involve family members in the treatment.
Contact Psychologen Amsterdam
Do you recognize your symptoms and do you need help or do you just have a question about the treatment of your symptoms? Then call for an appointment or send a message to Psychologen Amsterdam.
