Long-term stress can significantly affect our physical wellbeing. Stress and somatics are inextricably linked. The brain, which is in a constant feeling of danger, begins to induce physical ailments to various organs. Thus, people suffering from chronic stress often experience pain in the head, muscles, spine, neck, limbs or abdomen. Increased body temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea may also occur. How else does stress affect the body's somatics and how can these complaints be managed?
Stress and somatics - psychosomatic disorders
The physical state often reflects a person's mental state and vice versa. Stress and somatics They therefore have a strong influence on each other. Stress experienced chronically can physically affect a person's internal organs, with the result that a person suffering from a mental problem experiences physical ailments. The human psyche can therefore lead to serious physical illnesses, such as stomach ulcers, or even promote cancerous processes.
According to modern science, various biopsychosocial disorders are accompanied by ailments caused by both psychological and biological factors. Chronic stress and somatics, i.e. any psychosomatic disorders can therefore be triggered by a physical factor, but is intensified by the psyche. Therefore, people suffering from stress-induced psychosomatic disorders often have good test results, i.e. no physical signs of illness in the body, no less the complaints they experience are normal, but the cause is not in the biology, but in the psyche.
Places most frequently affected by stress
Chronic stress and somatics associated with it usually attack the same organ systems or sites in the body. To the most common somatic symptoms of stress belong:
- abdominal pains,
- gastric ulcers,
- diarrhoea,
- vomiting,
- headaches, neck and limb pain,
- limb tremor,
- respiratory problems (shortness of breath),
- heart palpitations,
- cardiovascular disorders.
There is extensive literature showing a correlation between personality type, stress and risk of coronary heart disease. The so-called personality type A is an aggressive, violent, controlling, competitive and impatient person. With this set of traits, it is not difficult to live a life of constant running and stress. Personality traits, stress and somatics can lead to coronary heart disease in this type. Studies show that the risk of this heart disease for these individuals is significant.
How to manage stress to avoid psychosomatic symptoms?
Obviously, in the first instance, people struggling with chronic stress should see a psychotherapist. It is best to do this with a complete physical examination, as the psychologist needs to be sure that our problems are not due to physical conditions. It may also be necessary to visit a psychiatrist's office to establish a pharmacological treatment plan. Stress and somatics can also be treated physiotherapy. Wrocław is the perfect place to find the right specialist! Painful symptoms such as neck or back pain are most often associated with tense muscles. Exercises and relaxation massages are therefore necessary to significantly support the healing process and help to get rid of the pain.
