Has anyone broken free of somatization disorder?

[guitarpants]

It seems like since it comes on so suddenly, and based on psychological issues, that it can go away just like it came, especially with therapy or help. When reading the descriptions of the disorder, it paints a poor picture, stating that people that have it are a suicide risk and never recover, have it for the rest of their life, blah blah blah. I refuse to believe that.

Has anyone broken free of somatization disorder?

[Gazman]

So far i have had 4 doctors diagnose me with somatization disorder, but i'm waiting to see a specialist for a true diagnosis, just about everyone will suffer with some mild form of somatization in their life i have been told, but others seem to develop a true disorder.

I have been told it can take just months to years to get rid of it, and only by changing your thought processes and stress/anxiety management will it be reduced.

I do believe there are underlying psychological problems that cause somatic symptoms and once these are addressed the symptoms must surely go, but i think finding these problems and believing they are the cause and not organic is the reason why most people have difficulty over coming the disorder.

I am struggling with various symptoms like swallowing, weak/stiff hand, twitches etc which are all common complaints with somatization yet i believe there is an organic cause like ms or mnd so they continue.

Some people believe that somatization is the same as anxiety, which is true in some respect,usually the anxiety makes you so aware of your body and then when the initial anxiety is gone or calmed down, you are still left hyper sensative to your body, and this is when somatization occurs, normal bodily functions become uncomfortable or you think they are not normal, so then you worry and then the anxiety is there.

Well thats how somatization has been explained to me, but ofcourse i'm no expert and i'm still having difficulty with it

[messianictalmud]

Yes Gazman as you say (just about everyone will suffer with some mild form of somatization in their life )
It's just like everyone has anxiety at times but doesn't mean they have a anxiety disorder, or people who get panic attaacks doesn't mean they have a panic disorder!

[Typer]

It's hard for me to admit, but I have been a therapist for a very long time

I say hard to admit, because even therapists, doctors etc, etc, have stuff in their lives and can get panic attacks or health problems that make a person feel out of control. hence I am here with my ectopics and the circle of anx this has caused me.

Somatic disorders are generally real and not imagined. NOT hypochondria. There is no definite proof but there have been many trials to show that mind can play a big part with some (if not all) illnesses. I studied and presented a seminar on psychosomatic illness and found there are varying ideas about it.

A small example is that stress can bring on an asthma attack in an asthmatic - irritable bowel has been associated with stress, worry and fear. There are ideas that a root cause can be at the bottom of an illness.

It does not always take years to be free of somatic disorders and sometimes a short burst of therapy cvan really help

[messianictalmud]

Hi Typer I kind of see what you mean about the root cause, but it can be said that there are times that illness or physical disability can also be the root cause for someone's state of mind too yes ?

[Typer]

Hi Typer I kind of see what you mean about the root cause, but it can be said that there are times that illness or physical disability can also be the root cause for someone's state of mind too yes ?

Absolutely. I hope the changes the government are talking of making will address these. I fit very well into this. I developed ectopic beats, became anxious making the beats more often, more anx, more beats etc. Chicken and the egg scenario. GP's need to start addressing this rather than putting every diddy thing down to anx.

I will say this, I had a lot of financial and other stress prior to the ectopic and racy beats. So, I do need to and am looking at that.

From my experience I would say that of all the anx I have worked with - at least 90% had a root cause which was kind of hidden or pushed by the mind and manifested as anxiety.

I cannot give you a real example re confidentiality but take this example:

A man finds his wife had an affair. They get over it and mend the relationship. A year later he suffer from extreem anxiety and this is also somatized with severe headaches. he has therapy with an experienced and understanding therapist. He gets in touch with the anger and pain from a year ago and lets it out (safely in the room with the therapist). His anxiety seems to disappear and his headaches. That make sense?

Sometimes the root goes back further - sometimes the anxiety may not have a root cause, its not set in stone, but is possible.

[messianictalmud]

Good point

[Melia]

Hi everyone. This is a very old thread but I just stumbled across it. My 10-year-old son has somatization disorder and I am worried sick about him. Do any of you have any success stories, and how did you achieve that success? Do you have any advice for me? We will try anything. Thanks.