Psychosomatic Symptoms From The Ptsd Or ??

[Majbritt]

Are there any of you kind people who suffer from psychosomatic symptoms from your PTSD?

If there is, would you then share your experiences with me?

How do I learn to see the difference between real symptoms and "imaginary" symptoms?

I would also like to hear about your medical experience.

I have received cognitive therapy for 6 years, but it didn´t work for me.

 

[anthony]

Are you simply asking, do you experience both mental and physical symptoms?

If so... that is very common and can be read here all over the place... though more people simply don't put the word with the affect.

 

[Majbritt]

no, I know that follows a lot of physical symptoms with the diagnosis, I experience that daily in my own body.
I just do not understand how other people make a distinction? Without having to go to the doctor every day.

Does it make sense?

I have not read every post here, there are many.

But a specific symptom forum / thread would have been nice .. one who only focused on physical symptoms.

 

[piratelady]

I don't know that I suffer from psychosomatic symptoms. I have physical ailments that I don't believe I would have if it weren't for the PTSD. For example, I suffer from chronic migraines. My primary care doctor has told me repeatedly that they are aggravated by stress. I had never had a migraine before my assault that caused the PTSD.

 

[anthony]

The distinction is near impossible to make, in actual fact, which is why no such specifics are catered here. One could argue that a sudden cancer, pain, ailment, headache, flu, and the list goes on, is due to anxiety / stress, however; it can't be proven.

I understand your frustration in differentiating them, though at the end of the day it really comes down to... if you get PTSD under control and you still have something physical, chances are it may not be PTSD related. If your symptoms flare and you get the ailment again, chances are it is PTSD.

I have discussed this with a couple of doctors over the years, concluding the same outcome... impossible to isolate whether it is PTSD related or not, especially when ageing is factored into the equation.

 

[Majbritt]

Thanks for your reply. I almost feared the answer, because it means that the fear will forever follow me when symptoms occur. :unsure:

 

[Deleted member 1860]

I believe I have psychosomatic symptoms in the form of stomach pains, as the pain almost always correlates with high stress. Sometimes its so bad that I am in severe pain for weeks to months on end. My doctor has prescribed antispasmodics as are prescribed for IBS, but they only really work when the pain is on the more mild side. OTC stomach meds don't even begin to help.

At one point, I even named my pain. It helped me to externalize the pain as if it wasn't a part of me.

 

[fluffycurtains]

I always have something wrong with me. I can't believe it is 'normal.' None of my friends experience new problems and pains every week. i keep thinking that my body is trying to break down because it is just exhausted from the fight. It is a fight. Every day I fight to find a reason to carry on, a way to cope with this cruel and heartless world.
This week my left shoulder hurts so much I cant sleep on it. Last week, my right foot was (still is) in so much pain I cannot walk properly. The week before that, it was an excruciating migraine. I have arthritis in my left hand and it no longer works. The list goes on. i truly believe it is stress related. Or my body just secretly tells me "you are not worth keeping up."

 

[PTSD sufferer]

I agree with Anthony that if it goes away with addressing the PTSD then it is likely related. But, we can't always wait around for that, sometimes we need to address physical symptoms at the same time, as we can't tell what is really related and what isn't.

I have been reading about physical symptoms quite a bit and I thought I would share a few interesting theories I have found.

The muscles are affected heavily by stress, and when stressed these become very tight. Often those with T4 back pain is because of stress related issues. Muscles are connected, and can cause pains in other parts of the body if tight. If your shoulder does not have a specific memory trigger, and even if it does, then it is worth visiting a good physiotherapist to look at your shoulder and any connecting muscle akes. The Nervous system can also be affected by muscles, as inflamed or tight/ knotted muscles cause pressure on the nervous system. This pressure can disrupt the signals to various parts of the body. Some acupressure, needle based work can help regulate the flow, but it can also affect the serotonin, so no Chinese doctors and make sure you are well when trying with good support networks around you.

The Autoimmune system is heavily affected by stress responses. Our physical body can go into fight mode and can become tired of fighting. We often see an increase in flu, allergic reactions and acne when the body is stressed. The most extreme reaction can be that the immune system becomes unbalanced and the wiring of the brain is confused about when to send antibodies and when not to. This can case extreme tiredness and muscle aces. Often nutrition and regulating sleep can help. Physio therapy can also help and light water based exercise (like aqua aerobics or hydro pool work). Light exercise can help boost the immune system. Then in extreme cases auto immune boosters are needed (only through a specialist). Having a flu shot can help to manage the high flu seasons better as well.

We shouldn't ignore physical symptoms. And, we are worth keeping up, within our own limits.

 

[Spiderallis]

I've got some other chronic issues that also put a strain on my system, but even without medical certainty I know a few of my symptoms are psychosomatic. When my brain can't handle an emotion or stressful situation, it passes it to my stomach and I get a headache- just recently learned that those are migraines. Stress is a big factor in so many health concerns, it makes a lot of sense why PTSD increases the likelihood of many other health problems. I'll never know for sure if my legs are swollen and sore from medically based causes or if my body knew I was thinking about working on not isolating at home so much. It gave me a reason to stay on the couch for a bit longer, and frequent reminders to take it easy.

 

[intothelight]

I want to stress what PTSD Sufferer said, as I ignored the pain in my back and feeling "tired". I really thought it was due to depression, age, and tension caused by anxiety. It wasn't until I broke my vertebrae and found out I had cancer that the symptoms feel into place.

Getting a complete physical, including blood work is important. Also do not forget all the recommended screenings based upon your sex and age. The earlier things are caught the easier they are to treat.

Yes, stress has a big part to play in many illnesses, including cancer. The more you can do to reduce stress and manage your PTSD symptoms, the better you will be overall.

 

[Majbritt]

thanks for all your answers. :)

My body has been out of balance for the last 6 years, and all tests say it works fine!

I don´t understand, I'm light-headed, tired and have restless heart (extra beats and so on) I have a 24/7 anxiety of falling down dead, and no doctors or psychologists can help me more. I can not work, I can not be alone, I can not leave the house, further than city limits.

I am only 40 years old, I was 34 when I got PTSD, so I'm wasting my life :-(