Traumas, PTSD, stress and fibro pains are closely interconnected, and recent research has shown there’re links between them. It doesn’t mean your pain is any less real. The mind and body are not separate things, what affects one will surely affect the other too. I’ve accepted my pains as psychosomatic after years of being in denial.
To my knowledge, we are still learning about chronic pain causes. I would share your worries with your therapist, especially because according to you, she is a true professional. Tell her that her words make you feel your pains are your fault. See how she reacts, and then decide whether you’re comfortable to proceed discussing this topic with her. You can consult with a psychiatrist about any SSRI prescriptions.
Stay healthy!
This is a hard question! I’ve been suffering from my chronic issues (stomach) for a very long time too, and no doctor can tell me for sure if my symptoms are purely physical or mental. I was diagnosed with health anxiety disorder (among other things), and it’s made me paranoid. Just like you, I feel constant fatigue, and I take sedatives. No antidepressants so far. My therapist is absolutely sure all my symptoms are the result of my hypochondria…. I appreciate her work on my mental health, but I prefer to address my other problems with scientifically proven methods.
@Samuel Descoteaux Chronic problems are always a combination of physical and psychological factors. Your therapist does not mean it’s all in your head, the idea is that there is some psychological component in it. Of course, if it makes you feel that your gut issues are not taken seriously, you should make your therapist know how you feel.
@hottestcurry I’m listening to all my doctors, but I’m not going to stop checking my health or visiting other specialists. Who knows, maybe they all are right to some extent?
No studies of the sources of fibromyalgia show any consistent findings, only that the initial triggers may indeed be anything, including cold, prolonged stress, depression. All the same things may be not the root sources but the aggravating factors. Anyway, why is it so important what caused the pain initially? In my opinion, the important question is if therapy helps you with it and your other health problems. It sounds like you have a great therapist. Ask her for more information and share your concerns before dismissing any of that.
@Wandering Owl8) The cold, you say? Interesting, because one of my most irritating triggers is weather. Any serious weather changes, and my condition worsens. And the craziest thing is I can’t control it!
I should probably research this topic in depth. I normally prefer not to read medical studies myself, as they are either too detailed or too scary. It’s easier to be guided by a medical specialist. And I’m not going to leave my therapist over it. I was just wondering if I should bring up my pains with her ever again, or if it’s best to discuss it with other doctors...
There’s no simple answer to your question. Stress causes all sorts of physical issues, and all the pain technically comes from our brain, carried by the nerves. In that sense, calming your nervous system down and treating your stress with any accompanying psychological issues is good, as it can help your body repair and rest.
Hi there, I also have severe anxiety and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. While fibromyalgia is often triggered by psychological trauma or stress, it’s a complex condition we’re still figuring out. I did a research paper on it for college and found some recent studies showing evidence of both the central nervous system and peripheral nerves being involved (some kind of overactivity of the pain-sensing receptors). All this to say…while stress is a strong contributor, it certainly doesn’t mean the pain is “all in our heads”!
P.S. If you’re not bothered by a strong cinnamon-y smell, I’ve found that Tiger Balm works wonders for my back pain!
According to research people with anxiety disorder,stress, depression are more likely to develop Fibromyalgia. so your therapist could be right that constant stress has triggered it. According to American college of rheumatology to be diagnosed as firbomyalgia you need to have symptoms for at least 3 months . symptoms like face or jaw pain, digestive problems, headache.
Generally treatment for this is exercise, fitness program, stress relief methods like light massage or relation techniques. if these treatments do not work then generally a antidepressant is referred so that is why your therapist must have recommended it. Even your therapist must have already incorporated cognitive behaviour therapy in your treatment plan. cognitive behaviour therapy is important part of treatment and a must to help relieve the symptoms.
You should consult your therapist and communicate to her that you feel that this pain is not psychological. Go consult primary healthcare provider or rheumatologist to clarify about fibromyalgia, as they are specialised in this field to understand it. If it is fibromyalgia just do your research and talk to the concerned doctor about what needs to be done for that. Honesty is required with your therapist. If you trust just let her be aware of your thoughts and tell her you are considering just another opinion to have a better understanding about the issue. This will also give you clarity of thoughts and then work on the problem.
In the mean while you can also keep a journal about your pain. When ever the pain hits try jotting down what you were doing before which aggravated it, did you have any other symptoms, weather or temperature changes. Notice what you did before the pain. this will also help you to maintain a track of how and why this problem starts. You can even show the journal to your therapist after monitoring the pain for some time.
But at the end treatment for this is behaviour therapies and relaxation techniques which your therapist can help you with as you need to handle the triggers and manage the stress in better way to deal with this.