How do you know if your ailment is psychosomatic?

Question

If physical symptoms can be found but a cause cannot - does this mean that your symptoms can be caused by anxiety? How do you know?

Answer 1

It COULD mean that your symptoms are psychosomatic, but does not mean that they are NECESSARILY so. Remember that doctors test for specific things when they are trying to diagnose a problem, so just because the cause is not what they thought it was does not mean there is no cause at all. Also, try to remember that there is a lot that doctors do not know yet. Many, many illnesses have been called psychosomatic for years before a cause is found.
Try to take notes about your experiences. If it is pain that you are experiencing then try to note when it happens and what is happening in your life at the time. Note what you have eaten, who you have interected with, etc. You may notice a pattern there that could help you with a diagnosis. Also check out resources on the internet that deal with whatever your problem is. Make sure they are relable though. Try the Mayo Clinic, Psychology Today, the American or Canadian medical associations, etc. Also get a second opinion from another doctor if you haven't already. For pain you should also go to a pain clinic. Whether psychosomatic or not, pain is very hard on your body and should be dealt with.
Best of luck.

Answer 2

Mostly by ruling out the physical ones. Sometimes things also have not given enough symptoms to find out the cause, also. So, some people have been written off as psychosomatic, and later have been found out to have an actual problem. I think the best thing to remember is, not all things will be discovered in ONE ER or doctor's visit. If there is a physical problem that is just beginning, it may take time to discover it. ER's are good at telling people what they don't have: Gallbladder ok, appendix ok, no aneurysm's, etc etc. They are not the place to discover all reasons for everything. That needs to be done with series of tests sometimes. The mind is a very funny thing, it'll give people symptoms without telling us why! So, people have to be honest with their doctor's when they are telling them their problems. Don't embelish, and don't hold back. If you're under alot of stress, tell them. If you're drinking or smoking or taking diet pills or OTC medicines, tell them. Don't expect doctor's to be mind readers, and don't make things worse than they are. And second opinions are OK. Counseling is OK. Doesn't mean someone is crazy cause they went to counseling. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

If you medicate your anxiety then the physical symptoms will also disappear.