Psychological Stressors Manifesting Into Physical Symptoms

[CCurry]

Now that my bf's therapy is in the early stages I've noticed that every conversation I have with him he's complaining of physically not feeling well. At times he has said this on the day of his therapy session so I was wondering if he was saying that because he didn't want to go to his session. And in fact, when he has cancelled he has said that he is "violently ill." Yesterday he complained again in the morning and basically I told him he is not cancelling even if he feels a need to throw up. I know that's harsh but I didn't want him to cancel again. I did go btw.

I've never known him to be like this but I'm thinking that his physical symptoms are caused by his psychological stressors right now. He complains of feeling shakey, GI issues, light headed. Of course I'm worried about him because there is one thing that he has not been able to get under control and that is his very high blood pressure.

 

[CCurry]

I want to add that the reason I'm asking is that there has been times that I feel he's making it all up for two reasons.

1. When's he promised that he's going to come over.
2. When he wants to cancel his TH session.

I'm not saying that I totally believe he is lying but I guess I'm asking if you've experienced the same?

C.

 

[TLight]

I used to get terribly ill just thinking about a therapy session, especially one where I was forwarned that we'd be doing some EMDR.

Stress does have very real impacts on the body. Still, to this day, if I allow myself to even come close to thinking about any of my traumas, I feel physically ill, my heartrate goes way up.........I'm dizzy.

I truly don't think he's faking it at all. This is really hard stuff and the pain from the traumas are 'held' in our bodies. It is usually our bodies that show the first signs of the damage, especially is we have no conscious memories.

I was left untreated for a majority of my life. Now I have all kinds of physical ailments........its sucks. Holding that kind of stress in the body breaks the body down.

He is going to feel bad before and after therapy for a long time. But he still needs to go.........although sometimes breaks are needed to if it is too much. He needs to decide that with his T.

He likely feels unwell when he is going to see you simply because you are a human. If humans abused him or otherwise caused the trauma.........well, humans are a trigger........try not to take it personally.

 

[Grainne]

I have many aches and pains that are caused, I think, by the constant tension I hold in my body.

Aside from that, on Thursdays, I almost always have headache - I feel sick, achey, shakey and feverish. Thursday is the day I see my therapist each week. I feel awful before (emotionally and physically) and even worse after most days...especially EMDR days, like Tlight said above.

I don't think he's 'faking' exactly - but it could just be that the thought of therapy makes him feel ill, like it does me. He has spent alot of energy on NOT processing these things that caused his trauma. It's extremely difficult to stop something that feels so out of control...so reactionary. I will pull back emotionally and completely close down in therapy before I can even catch myself some days. We'll be going through something particularly distressing and in an instant I will be gone. Can't even connect back to the thought.

Keep encouraging him to attend his appointments. It might take a while to get easier for him...but when compared to the time he spent suffering, his battle will not feel so long. (I think...I hope).

Best xo
Grainne

 

[CCurry]

Wow what you both of described is exactly how he has described it too and so it helps to know that others share these physical symptoms!

Now if we can just get his BP under control, he said last time he checked a few days ago it was 180/90...and he's on BP meds. Omg, I so afraid he's going to stroke out. He's promised today he's going to call his doctor, I hope he follows through.

C.

 

[dust]

I had really bad aches and pains when I started therapy, now it is less, but I still get it on occasion. That and vomiting. Does he exercise? That will really help with the blood pressure and also helps with the symptoms of pain.

best,

dust

 

[Deleted member 541]

Yes, stress from therapy can cause all sorts of lovely symptoms. I used to get diarrhea, aches and pains, and headaches, before and after therapy.....

There is also a thing called White Coat Syndrome....It's when people that are nervous and scared about seeing their Dr, their BP raises substantially... I wonder if it also could be raising his, just from the stress of seeing his therapist, and facing his trauma???????

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

I have had high blood pressure since I was 21. I did not fit any of the normal profiles. (Healthy, young, healthy weight etc.). I also have chronic pain issues.

Now, I believe that all of this is due to the C-PTSD and the fact that (especially in those years) I was stuffing everything down as hard as I could.

Before and after my T appts. - my anxiety is higher, my blood pressure is higher (and it's controlled by 2 meds), my pelvic pain is through the roof, my shoulders hurt, and my head hurts. The same thing happens if I'm triggered or under a lot of stress.

There is a direct connection - however, I would still discourage him from not attending appts. due to it - it does get better with time (just like all the other symptoms) - but I don't think he's faking by any means.

 

[This Ends Now]

Yup, physical symptoms completely normal. For me nausia has always been number one on the symptom list... sometimes followed by other GI distress. Chest pains and trouble breathing are in there too. Headaches are a constant as well. Sometimes shaking (probably blood pressure) and dizzyness. General aches and pains are kinda normal for me so IDK if that one is stess or not.

I completely understand why you would want to get a sanity check and see if these symptoms are normal. I find that not just therapy does it to me. Several high stress situations including: doing taxes, job hunting, discussing finances, going to the doctor, relationship talks, taking tests, seeing some family members. The list realy does sound like I just don't want to do those things and to some degree that's accurate. I don't want to do them because they are high stress and usually trigger me... so my mind takes it out on my body in a very big way.

All that being said, it is still important to go to therapy. Holding it all in makes the symptoms much worse over time and can cause long term dammage.

 

[CCurry]

Thanks guys, this really reinforces what he's been saying. He is fit and does workout fairly regularly so that should keep his BP down as well as the meds BUT I found out this afternoon that he's not taking his BP meds.

Argh, this man does not care if anything happens to him, I'm not sure if that's a ptsd thing or whether being in active combat zones for so long he's accepted death. Anyway, I've told him he needs to take them if not for self perservation then for me who wants him in my life. See what we carers go through? LOL.

I agree about him continuing on with his TH appointments and he's not cancelling on my watch.

 

[TLight]

Yeah, it's hard to want to take care of yourself when you are in so much pain and turmoil. He should be taking his BP meds..........hope he gets back on track with you love and support.

 

[Grainne]

He is a very lucky man to have you...I hope he knows that. :)