The Psychological Interacting with the Physical
Physical pains, aches and general discomforts are typically caused by physical ailments. Psychological irregularities and discomforts are typically caused by psychological problems. Because of the typical situations, it is often difficult to cross the lines and diagnose physical ailments caused by psychological problems and vice versa. Nonetheless, the crossover does happen. People frequently visit their health professional without getting any satisfaction in the diagnosis or treatment for their complaint. The fact is that sometimes people are just visiting the wrong health professional.
When Physical becomes Psychological
Physical ailments or problems can manifest themselves as psychological disorders. Depression is very common in our culture today. The reason is unknown, but may be related to increasing expectations and levels of stress. Visiting a psychiatrist for depression may not be helpful if the depression is a symptom of some physical ailment. For a condition to qualify for clinical depression, it must meet various requirements. If it does not, a psychiatrist will probably not treat the symptom. In that case, it may be necessary to evaluate the rest of your health more thoroughly. A visit to your physician may be in order. If you have some physical problem or illness that has simply not been discovered and accounted for, the depression is not the correct thing to treat. Once the physical body has been cured, the depression, or whatever other symptom is present, will probably also be taken care of.
When Psychological becomes Physical
A much more common happening in human health is the manifestation of psychological abnormalities in the physical body. Many, many psychological conditions need psychiatric treatment even though they manifest themselves as physical symptoms. Depression affects sleep habits and therefore feelings of fatigue. Pills can be prescribed to help a body sleep or stay awake, but the underlying problem will still need to be addressed by a psychiatric professional. Substance abuse causes all kinds of physical problems. In many cases, the physical hurts will need to be addressed by a physician, but taking care of the symptoms will not cure the disease. Having open heart surgery may become necessary for a nicotine addict, but the addiction will still need to be taken care of psychologically. Sometimes, a person may demonstrate a psychiatrically unhealthy behavior and only imagine physical symptoms. In that case there will be absolutely nothing that a regular physician can do for the body. The entire illness must be addressed psychiatrically.
It is tempting, and often correct, to associate physical problems with the body and mental problems with the mind. There are times, however, when the lines get crossed. It is not a bad idea to visit the typical health professional for a given symptom. Don’t be discouraged if that doctor can find nothing wrong with you though. Don’t give up either. If you aren’t happy with your feelings of health and well-being, continue to seek medical advice. The mind and body are not necessarily separate from each other and combining treatments is often the best way to find relief.
Frances, Allen MD and First, Michael B. MD. Your Mental Health: A Layman’s Guide to
the Psychiatrist’s Bible. New York: Scribner, 1998.
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