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Somatization - The Unexplained Symptom
Some people show a tendency to convert anxiety, emotional pain or conflict into physical symptoms, known as somatization. The symptoms may mimic what the person knows about certain medical conditions - resulting in a problem of diagnosis for doctors and specialists. Ultimately no organic basis can be found for the symptoms even after exhaustive tests.
The symptoms though are certainly real, and the patient may remain distressed and disabled. Since the mechanism is unconscious the patient is not malingering, and may find it difficult to believe that the symptoms are not due to undetected physical illness.
It may take the form of a once-off symptom following an obviously traumatic event. A good example would be cases of blindness or paralysis in wartime. More often the condition follows a chronic course (many years) involving many different parts of the body.
Provided you have "had all the tests" and got the medical all clear, hypnotherapy is a helpful treatment for this condition. This is because it treats the subconscious mind where the symptoms are generated. I work by unravelling the underlying emotional conflict. I will also look for unconscious benefits of symptoms, which are usually protective in nature. For a while the client has to trust that the symptoms are indeed the effect of emotional conflict or hidden advantage. When these processes are revealed we can work at resolving the conflict and reducing anxiety generally. Then the symptoms fade.
Call now for an appointment on: 01793 331163.
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